As a project manager, how to you improve your project management competency? The industry is full of options to provide training and learning opportunities ranging from in-seat training classes, project management organizations, conferences, on-the-job training, mentoring and various books and magazines targeted to our profession. You can't forget all the websites, discussion forums, e-zines and blogs that produce daily content filled with tips and advice on project management execution.

Since project managers are tasked with successful project delivery, there simply isn't enough time to review all these training sources to learn new ideas and improve existing skill sets. Is there ever a good time to take training during a project? If we are lucky, we have a small amount of time between meetings to skim a few project management websites in addition to checking ESPN.com for last night's sports scores. The other challenge is that all of these activities are outbound activities that require you to search, sort and scour the Internet for relevant content.

Wouldn't it be easier if someone just sent you all the information that you needed to know?

I recently published an example on how you can use a variety of social media tools to improve your PM competency at Gantthead.com.  Read more the article at:

http://www.gantthead.com/content/articles/253203.cfm

In October, for the first time in what I considered a successful 14 year career, I was fired. HR had a friendlier term and referred to the action as a "redundant position that was being eliminated" as part of the company's "profit optimization initiative." Call it what you want - job elimination, headcount reduction, downsizing or a "profit optimization initiative" - I no longer had a revenue stream. I was fired.

To say I was surprised is an understatement, despite all the economic indicators in the Detroit area where unemployment had risen to 28%. I had survived three waves of downsizing across two Fortune 500 companies. I had a proven track record of successful project delivery and was often asked to help turn around troubled projects and programs. In a company that leveraged outsourcing, I was convinced they couldn't outsource leadership. Despite all of this I was still fired.

Fortunately, 40 days later, I was hired

I published a Unemployment Rescue Kit on TechRepublic that provides some tactical advice and a Career Contact Matrix to help find employment in continuing War for Talent.

Read more at http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/career/?p=1534&tag=results;CR1

• Assessing Troubled Projects : Schedule Assessment
• Nightmare on PM Street
• Project Estimation: How to use project data to develop a better estimation matrix
• Book Recommendation: Managing Complex Products: A New Model