Hier erfahren Sie, wie Sie die Weiterbildung mit Ihrer Rolle als Programmmanager in Einklang bringen können.

One thing I found helpful is research and learning about technology and solutions that impact my work. I’m lucky to work in the tech industry and continue to find new things to learn. For now I see my self-education as mandatory for my role and something that helps me feel valued as a program manager. I want to understand technology but not replace our engineers. I want to contribute to conversations and understand potential options. I leverage the base line certifications that companies offer to help as a starting point. I leverage technical partners for technical coaching and mentoring sessions. With all this in mind I have a weekly focus on training or learning time that is prioritized equal to deadlines.

With 6 years of experience in Corporate, majority of which was spent in people & program management, I felt the need for formal management education. Given the opportunity cost, I opted for executive MBA from IIMK. Few strategies I find helpful to balance work & edu. are 1️⃣ Timebox: Timeboxing improves efficiency, getting same things done in lesser time. 2️⃣ Task Distribution: Major chunk of study time goes into group projects. Work is all about group play. Delegating wisely helps achieve targets vis à vis heavylifting oneself. 3️⃣ Leverage Tech: Biggest time guzzler for studies is searching right academic sources. LLMs streamlines this. I use Perplexity to find the right sources for my academic papers, for exam prep & lot more.

Balancing Continuing Education with Your Program Manager Role: 🔸 Prioritize Learning Goals: Clearly define your learning objectives and prioritize courses or certifications that align with your career goals and current job requirements. 🔸 Time Management: Use effective time management techniques, such as creating a schedule that allocates specific times for education without disrupting your work responsibilities. 🔸 Leverage Online Learning: Opt for flexible online learning platforms that allow you to study at your own pace, fitting education around your work schedule. Taking these points into account, program managers can effectively balance their continuing education with their professional responsibilities.

1. Prioritize and Plan-Set Clear Goals, create a schedule 2. Leverage Flexible Learning Options-Online Courses, par time, Microlearning 3. Integrate Learning with Work-Align Learning Goals with Work Objectives , Apply What You Learn 4. Efficient Time Management 5. Communicate and Negotiate with Your Employer-Discuss Your Goals, seek support, share progress 6. Create a Support System-Find a Mentor 7. Maintain Work-Life Balance 8. Continuous Assessment and Adjustment By implementing these strategies, you can effectively balance continuing education with your role as a program manager, ensuring both professional development and job performance.

In program management (specifically in technology) you cannot separate the two. Like others who have responded to this thread, I too work in technology. To stay abreast of changes you must continue to seek education, not just mainstream education but innovative education. Sadly, there are those who seem to think that these functions (program management and continuing education) are independent of one another, they never can be. While AI is the innovative trend today, it will be a mainstream staple tomorrow. Learning how to engage this technology will soon be a differentiator within the workplace.

I’m currently pursuing my MBA part time while still working a full-time job. The best advice I got before I started was to time-box my schedule and commit to it. Just do what you can (work, exercise, studying) within a given unit of time. It’s helped me stay much more on top of my studies while still being able to focus at work. And, try and make learning social if you can! I host a weekly Sunday study group with my classmates that’s kept things fun while also being enjoyable. Plus it keeps me accountable to putting the time in.

I recommend integrating educational activities into your daily workflow by setting aside dedicated time slots for learning, akin to important meetings. Leverage the power of 'time-blocking' to allocate specific hours each week for coursework or skill development, ensuring these blocks are treated with the same respect as critical project deadlines. Additionally, capitalize on the synergy between work and study by focusing on educational content that directly enhances your current projects or professional growth. This approach not only streamlines your schedule but also reinforces learning through immediate application, leading to a more efficient and effective development as a program manager.

Effective scheduling helps you allocate time for both work responsibilities and learning activities. By planning your schedule, you can avoid conflicts between work tasks and educational commitments. A well-structured schedule allows you to focus on learning during dedicated times without work distractions. Regular scheduling of learning sessions helps maintain a steady pace of education alongside your job. Proper scheduling reduces the stress of juggling multiple responsibilities by providing a clear plan.

I believe that technology is a key enabler in harmonizing continuing education with a program manager role. By utilizing project management and learning management systems, program managers can integrate their educational pursuits into their daily schedules seamlessly. Online courses and webinars can be attended during less intensive phases of a project, while mobile learning apps allow for microlearning during short breaks. Collaborative tools like Microsoft Teams or Slack can facilitate peer learning and knowledge sharing without disrupting the workflow.

I advocate for integrating continuing education within the work environment to balance it with a program manager role. This can be achieved by engaging in work-related learning opportunities, such as cross-departmental projects that offer exposure to new methodologies or technologies. Encourage a culture of continuous improvement by organizing regular knowledge-sharing sessions and lunch-and-learns with your team, where insights from recent courses can be discussed and applied to current projects. By aligning educational goals with organizational objectives, you can create a symbiotic relationship where both personal growth and company progress are mutually reinforced, turning the workplace into a dynamic learning ecosystem.

I find that networking and sharing are pivotal in balancing continuing education with a program manager role. By actively participating in professional networks and communities, program managers can exchange insights and resources that complement their formal education. Mentorship programs, both as a mentor and a mentee, provide real-world perspectives that enhance theoretical knowledge. Additionally, contributing to forums and writing articles about recent learnings not only solidifies one's understanding but also benefits the wider community.

Flexibility means being open to unconventional learning schedules, such as early mornings, late evenings, or weekends, to accommodate the unpredictable demands of program management. It involves being adaptable with the formats of education, whether it be online courses, podcasts, or audiobooks, that can be consumed in parallel with other tasks. Staying flexible also entails recognizing and seizing spontaneous learning opportunities that arise in the workplace, and being willing to adjust project timelines slightly, when possible, to allow for educational growth. This adaptability ensures that personal development and professional responsibilities are not in conflict but are instead complementary aspects of a program manager's career.

I consider learning formats that offer flexibility and convenience, such as online courses, self-paced modules, or mobile learning apps. These options allow you to learn at your own pace and more easily fit learning into your schedule.

Many a times Program Managers are forced to get into an execution mode and are mostly likely to be overloaded with responsibilities. However it is essential to up-skill oneself in primarily the following aspects: 1. Technical ramp up to better understand the product offerings. 2. Better understand the new methodologies under program management 3. Understand how the product fits in the overall ecosystem 4. Find the best practices and strive continuously for efficiency and improvement