On Thursday, February 28, ASTD-OC features internationally known author and speaker Lou Russell on “Stop Winging It: Realistic Project Management.” Having just finished her book Project Management for Trainers: Stop Winging It And Get Control Of Your Projects, I can’t wait for her one-day, low-cost workshop next week.

Whether you're job-hunting, seeking a promotion, or just wanting to keep your expertise up to date, consider that project management is fast becoming a critical skill in the learning and development profession. Those with demonstrated ability to manage projects have a distinct, competitive edge over those who don’t.

Ms. Russell does a great job covering the most critical and universally applicable project management practices, then customizing them for learning initiatives. She approaches her subject with the full awareness of how often we wear dual hats of training developer and project manager.

Here are some topics covered:

• How to set meaningful objectives.
  
• Why it is important to distinguish between business objectives and learning objectives – and how to document both.
  
• How to create a scope document your stakeholders are likely to read.
  
• How to develop the essential components of a project plan – a work breakdown structure, a schedule (including a critical path), a stakeholder communication plan, a risk management plan, cost estimates, and so on.
  
• When to use project management software – and when not to.
  
• Why you should conduct post-project reviews, and how to apply systems thinking and knowledge management principles to get the most out of them.

She makes her principles easy to apply through extensive use of examples, exercises, checklists, templates, and other resources. Most important, her approach is both rigorous and flexible, which equips her learners to manage the constant changes inevitable in the real world. You will come away better equipped to manage projects, deal successfully with change – and forge ahead in your career!