Here's how you can expand your skills as a software project manager by learning new programming languages.

An effective method I use to enhance my skills is by tackling a programming language through a small hobby project. Recently, I chose Zig, a relatively new language, and implemented a GPT-2 training model. This hands-on approach allows me to grasp the language's nuances and explore its concepts in depth. I find that logging my learning, implementation time, and debugging efforts during this process is invaluable.

By learning a programming language and getting deep into it, the basic understanding of most other languages will be easy, and of course, with less time than the first language, we will learn more advanced concepts sooner. Of course, understanding the structure of different languages and their behavior in dealing with RAM management, architecture definition, etc. will be of great help in choosing the right language for the defined project.

Learning a new language is never a big problem if you're open to challenges. As a project manager, you have the skills to learn any language within days, you just need to be consistent. For this, follow these guidelines: 📅 Add a timeslot in your calendar for learning a new language. ⏰ Strictly follow the timeslot and find good tutorials. 🖥️ Learn the basics and practice on your computer. 🤝 If someone on your team is working with the same language, ask for their help – don't be hesitant. 🛠️ Create a project in that language to identify risks and potential limitations.

Here's something I always do. I enroll in an online computer course or something similar and keep doing it in the free time. That is I keep learning continuously. I learned this from Tony Robbins. The formula is called CANI = Continuous And Never ending Improvement. So I gradually but consistently improve. Like the tortoise in the tortoise rabbit story if you will. This means you will eventually get an edge. It's only a matter of time.

Understanding the languages your team uses bridges the gap between management and development. It allows for clearer communication, more precise requirements gathering, and effective problem-solving.

Undoubtedly, having knowledge (starting from the basics) about the programming language used by your team can give you more success when planning backlogs, it can give you a more accurate picture of what a developer can work on and the effort it will take. It can even help you foresee certain roadblocks or general questions that may arise in the development cycle.

Knowing the languages your team uses replicates the missing link between management and development. The improved communication means clearer definition of projects and a more collaborative environment. When you understand technical jargon and can discuss issues in the language developers use, that works to foster mutual respect and encourages innovative problem-solving. Further, it better arms you with the ability to translate technical challenges into business impacts, so that you can be valuable in stakeholder discussions. This would ensure enhanced communication, guaranteeing everybody is at the same level of understanding, reducing misunderstandings, and hence smoothening project progress.

People become project managers with different backgrounds. I think if you want to successfully manage somebody, you have to be in their shoes for a while. The ideal case is when a project manager evolves from an engineer. Spending 3-5 years doing coding sets up the right mindset, and those project managers have the right level of empathy toward their subordinates. Sharing a similar "vibe" between the project manager and engineer also helps to establish better trust, and the team would respect their project manager more. If a project manager doesn't have 3-5 years of coding experience, that's okay. Personal projects or even simple coding tasks on current assignments will make a big difference.

Being familiar with the language, or languages, your team uses goes a long way to building a good rapport with your colleagues. It also allows you to better communicate requests from other stakeholders to developers, and communicate progress back. Having a basic, working understanding of code may even allow you to step in and handle simple coding tasks while your team of experts does the heavy lifting.

Knowing what your team challenges may face with coding will help you better understand challenges that can come up and help foster a great relationship with your team. The better relationship you have the more they will want to help make sure everything is done properly and on time.

Empathy towards your development team is crucial for a harmonious work environment. By learning programming languages, you can experience firsthand some of the frustrations and joys that developers encounter. This understanding makes you more patient and supportive as a project manager, boosting team morale and productivity. Empathy also helps in tailoring your management approach to the unique needs of your team, further enhancing project success. When you can relate to the challenges your developers face, you create a more inclusive and understanding atmosphere, fostering a sense of unity and collaboration that drives the project forward.

The more you understand from a technical standpoint, the more likely you will see challenges and opportunities before they arrive. You'll be better able to organize your team, better able to estimate and prioritize, and better able to inspire confidence.

A more in-depth technical knowledge enables you to make better-informed decisions regarding technology choices and their implications for the project. You'll be able to weigh in on discussions about the most suitable programming languages for new features or system optimizations. This expertise leads to selecting the best technological solutions that align with project goals, budget, and timelines, thereby improving the overall quality of the final product. Understanding the technical aspects also allows you to foresee potential challenges and assess the feasibility of different approaches. This proactive decision-making helps in avoiding costly mistakes and ensures that the project progresses smoothly.

You stay current by constantly reading and learning. The key word being 'constantly'. I keep abreast of new knowledge by purchasing books and courses and learn from it in my free time. Learning should become a lifelong habit.

If you can make a business case for expanding your knowledge in company time then it may be easier to commit to this. Regardless, scheduling some regular learning time in or out of work may help you to reach your goals more quickly

Join Writing Communities: 1.Join writing or technical communities where you can share your work and learn from others. It improves collaborative learning. 2.Participate in writing workshops and webinars to hone your skills and stay motivated. By integrating writing into your professional routine, you can significantly enhance your communication skills and continuously expand your expertise as a software project manager, particularly when learning new languages.

As a software project manager, expanding your skills into programming languages can open up new career opportunities, such as technical leadership or architecture roles. That means you can become more valuable to yourself or even your organisation.