Although I've been to the Digital Project Manager Summit put on by the Bureau of Digital year after year, the most important thing I gain from attending the conference remains the same: the ability to connect with people like me.
Before attending the Summit, I had never before met anyone who did what I did. Like many DPMs, I fell into this career much ‘by accident,’ and it has been a fast-paced learning experience since the very first day. It has always felt a little bit lonely to be learning so much by myself and not have anyone to run ideas by or find solutions to problems with. I often longed for a DPM buddy to help me make sure that I’m not (too) crazy when I try to make a company-wide change, to learn from their unique experiences, and to commiserate with. That wish was met from the very first moment at the DPM Summit, and remains the most heartwarming and validating part of the DPM community.
Three Essential Elements to Effective Communication
Whatever your field of work is, communicating with other people is likely a fundamental part of your job. While it can be one of the most challenging tasks, it is arguably the most important, and one of the most rewarding! Even if you are the best at whatever you do, the importance and impressiveness of your work is diminished if you can’t effectively communicate with your team members, your supervisors, and your clients.
Through many years of practice, I have learned three essential elements to effective professional communication. Consistently reminding myself of these three elements gives me the tools that I need to comfortably and competently handle most any conversation I may need to have.