Top Project management Trends in 2023

Are you worried about your project management career? Don’t be. In the constantly-evolving world of work, you can stay ahead of the curve by being aware of current trends in project management. Stay secure in your career project management while also meeting evolving workplace demands with smart planning.

Managing a hybrid team of multiple generations

In today's world, project managers must manage a hybrid workforce. Your team may not be in the office every day, and that remote worker may even be sitting right next to you at home. This trend has been growing for years, and it's only going to continue.

In addition to the generational gap, we’re also seeing the first time that 4 generations have been in the workforce together. This means that leaders need to adapt their leadership styles to better address how different team members want to work and be managed.

Why it matters

Employers have been embracing flexible work since the pandemic started, and this has been great for employee work/life balance. Remote and hybrid work is more popular than ever, and many employees want to be able to do it in the future. As companies resign more employees, they need to be willing to allow this type of work model in order to keep them.

What to do

More trust, less control for staff doing remote work

Project managers who want to be successful with remote teams need to develop skills that go beyond the traditional way of working. Employers are already trusting employees more, and this trend will only continue in the future. The key to succeeding with remote teams is developing a unique set of skills that sets you apart from your colleagues.

With the shift in employer-employee relationships, it is more important than ever to trust employees and delegate tasks. Results are what's important, and it doesn't matter how many hours employees spent at their desks or what time they logged into work today. If the deadline is met and the end product is great, there is no need to micromanage them.

Why it matters

Working from home is great for people who want to be able to work flexibly. You no longer have to depend on people who are in your local area, and you can use subject matter expertise from anywhere in the world. People also want options that fit their lifestyles.

Working from home is becoming increasingly popular, and many employers are looking for ways to accommodate their employees. The APM survey (Salary and Market Trends 2021) reported that 61% of respondents replied that working from home options were important when choosing a new role. This trend is likely to continue as more employees seek flexible work options.

Working from home can be a great way to save energy, reduce carbon emissions and improve work-life balance. By cutting down on commuting, we have more time in the day to devote to our work. This can lead to improved productivity and satisfaction in our careers.

What to do

Integrating change management on projects

Project management should be focused more on ensuring that the final product is actually usable by the people who will be using it. Too often, projects are built and completed without taking into consideration whether the end product is actually fit for use.

Project management is more than simply managing timelines and spreadsheets. To be successful in the present and future, project managers need to be able to utilize their strategic partnership skills, creative problem solving abilities, and commercial awareness. Top project managers are able to build strong relationships with others and have the ability to think strategically.

No matter who your boss is, you need to be able to effectively manage change. Whether it's a lucky break and your boss happens to be great at change management or you have to step up and handle it yourself, embracing this important skill can help you succeed in your career.

Building strong relationships with stakeholders is essential to successfully managing both project progress and change. We need to engage these important parties regularly while also acknowledging the concerns of those affected by our project work.

You can't successfully complete a project without effective change management – even if you're the only one handling it. It's essential to plan for and manage changes as they happen, so your project stays on track and succeeds.

Why it matters

In order to improve change management, organizations are turning to project communications methods that better connect everyone involved in the process. By using tools like webinars and social media, teams can stay on top of changes as they happen and ensure a smooth transition for all.

If your stakeholders are spending the majority of their time online watching videos, it may be time to start using video briefings as a way to stay connected with them and receive important updates. By providing video content that is relevant to them, you can keep them informed and engaged at work.

Video is a powerful tool for changing behavior. It can help people take actions they wouldn't have otherwise taken, like buying products or subscribing to a service.

Stakeholder relationships are a huge challenge for anyone trying to get work done. But getting people involved in projects is still the most challenging part of getting anything done.

Video is coming to our communications and how we become change-makers. This will allow us to connect with others more easily and create a more engaged workforce.

Some companies are already using video as an effective way to help new employees become familiar with the company and its policies. By using videos, these companies are able to keep new employees engaged and informed, which ultimately helps them transition smoothly into their roles.

What to do

Soft skills and emotional intelligence for leaders

If you want to be a successful in a project environment, it’s important that you have emotional intelligence. This means being able to handle your emotions in a constructive way, which will help you communicate better and lead more productive teams.

Your project environment is a complex, ever-changing web of interactions. It's populated with people who know what they want, most of the time. But sometimes those wants clash and create conflict.

Project managers will need to be able to communicate effectively and work cooperatively with other members of an organization in order to complete their projects successfully. Certification schemes can help identify those who are well-suited for the position, but it's important that candidates have the skills necessary to succeed in this field.

Why it matters

Sure, we love mastering coding and design skills in our workplaces, but those days are numbered. Soon, advanced automation and AI features will be commonplace in project management tools - leaving the more tedious tasks to software. So let’s roll up our sleeves and learn about communication, collaboration and problem-solving!

I see a future where task information is easily accessible and an estimate can be generated based on past performance. This technology is already available, we just need to make use of it.

Project managers will need to be excellent at engaging stakeholders, resolving conflicts, managing change, and negotiating in order to succeed in today’s market.

Being emotionally intelligent means being able to take into account the feelings of others, and act in a way that doesn't upset them. Beyond that, it's essential to be able to read social cues and understand people's motives. People with high emotional intelligence find this much easier than those who are not as smart when it comes to emotions.

What to do

Resilience as a priority

Project work can be quite stressful, and this is one of the main reasons that people are leaving the project management profession. And to be honest, things haven't been going great for many people lately - their mental health has definitely suffered as a result.

The forward-thinking leadership team must safeguard their emotional and mental health and that of their teams in the coming year. Resilience as an individual, resilience for the project, and business resilience are all essential for success.

The coming years will require resilience for businesses. The disruptions caused by the recent economic downturn have made it necessary for companies to find ways to work more effectively and efficiently remotely, but there hasn't been enough support available to help them do this effectively. I hope that in 2018 we see more initiatives created to promote and support remote and hybrid working, as this is something that will continue to be important in the years ahead.

Organizations that are looking to keep up with the changing way people work should consider implementing mental support programs for their employees. More and more, projects are being impacted by emotional and cultural factors, which can be a challenge for those who have to adjust to the new model. Forward-looking organizations have already started planning programs to help their workers cope with this change.

We can expect more organizations to start projects to support well-being at work in the future, including new HR regulations that allow people working from home, time sheeting projects to help businesses address productivity concerns, digital tools that facilitate online collaborations, task completion, project planning and management, and online mindfulness programs to support staff anxiety, stress, and burnout.

Why it matters

We must always be mindful of our own well-being when working, in order to maintain the highest level of productivity. Recently, there have been a number of factors conspiring against us, such as workplace stress and the pressures of keeping up with colleagues who are often off. We must take care not to overwork ourselves, or we will quickly lose our health and spirit.

We should always be looking out for each other, as it is truly the most important thing in our lives. Our interactions and relationships are what make our lives enjoyable, so we should make sure to foster positive ones with everyone we know.

What to do

Artificial intelligence and RPA

The potential for AI to revolutionize project management is clear. With improved risk identification, assessment and response, as well as intelligent scheduling and automating mundane tasks, it can help organizations achieve consistent process and better decision making. So if you're looking to stay ahead of the curve in this rapidly changing field, make sure you invest in a powerful project management software suite that includes AI capabilities.

Are you using bots to help you with your work? Bots have many interesting uses, like receiving updates automatically or reminding you of important deadlines. They can also be helpful for coordination within teams. Keep an eye out for future developments in AI and bots, because they will only become more prevalent in the workplace.

With robotic process automation (RPA), businesses can automate tedious, time-consuming tasks to free up employees for more important work. While still in its early stages, RPA is having a big impact on the Project Management Office (PMO) community, as it offers huge potential time savings. So watch out – this technology is only going to become more popular in the future!

Why it matters

The ever-growing popularity of automation and artificial intelligence is changing the way we work, freeing up our time for more important tasks. These technologies help us to streamline our tasks and make our lives easier.

If you're looking for a way to save time and money while increasing productivity, consider using automation to help you with basic tasks, organize specific information, and compile helpful data. Automation can help you do things quickly and easily, without having to expend any extra effort.

Project managers who are embracing AI will be better equipped to lead projects successfully. By integrating artificial intelligence into their project management styles, they will become more transparent and able to make better decisions by analyzing data from multiple projects at the same time.

What to do

A strategic shift for PMOs

The future for the Project Management Office looks bright. With tools becoming smarter and automations taking some of the grunt work out of data crunching, PMOs will be able to focus on more strategic tasks.

PMOs are evolving to meet the changing needs of organizations. For example, instead of putting together a strategic plan for the next three years, they may need to answer questions such as:

The PMO will have to focus on the broader strategic goals of the organization, and shift its attention away from specifically defining which teams and resources will do the work. Moreover, the PMO may not be involved in tracking those efforts after they have been set into motion.

Why it matters

With cross-functional projects, it’s almost inevitable that a PMO will be set up to track and plan the work. Moving forward, organizations will put the tracking and delivery of the work on the teams themselves, with PMOs serving as reporting centers and support mechanisms for when things start to go wrong or when major risks arise.

What to do

Customization of project management tools

With customization, businesses can create engaging messages that seem like they're tailored specifically for the audience, without having to put in a lot of extra work. This consumer trend is already being seen in tools like chat, file sharing, and liking, and it's only going to become more popular in the business world.

Customization is one example of how consumers are managing change. With smart analytics, we can see the right data at the right time, which will help us process projects effectively.

Enter the predictive analytics space, where machines not just analyze what people do but try to understand why they do it and how their decision-making process works. This level of insight will be invaluable for managing and predicting future behavior, leading to strategic gains for businesses everywhere.

With rich data, project managers can create a tailored journey for stakeholders, helping leaders make smarter choices about what next steps to take when the environment seems uncertain. Who knows,maybe we'll see more virtual reality environments that are specifically tailored to our needs in the years to come!

Why it matters

Customization is about taking the approach and communications that work well for you and adapting them to fit the audience. Within project management tools, I want to see the data that's relevant to me. My sponsor wants real-time information on progress and budget, so we can stay on track. The data we need is definitely drawn from the same data set, but it's filtered in a way that makes sense for each of us.

What to do

Don't know which tool to choose for your next project? Crozdesk has partnered with software comparison portal, to bring you expert advice on the best project management tools. They'll call you and ask about your needs, and then recommend products that match - saving you time in your search.

Tailoring project management methodologies

When it comes to project management, there are a variety of different methodologies that can be used. Which one is the best for your team and your project?

Project managers need to decide which methodology is best suited for their team and project. waterfall or agile? Or something else? There are many different options out there, so it's important to choose the one that will work best for your team and project.

In order to tailor their projects effectively, project managers will need to have a deep understanding of both the PMBOK Guide - Seventh Edition and PRINCE2. With these manuals providing more detailed guidance than ever before, managers can adapt their projects to fit their specific environment perfectly. However, being able to do this effectively requires some skills that may not be innate to many project managers.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to tailoring a project management methodology to your business. Instead, you need the professional judgement to be able to differentiate between the benefits of agile, waterfall and blended approaches. Only by understanding the pros and cons of each can you decide what will work best for your company. If pure scrum is providing results, or if you're strictly a waterfall shop, that's all that matters.

There seems to be a growing trend of project managers throughout the world taking on more responsibility for their own career development. This is something that was highlighted to me during my recent talks with many professionals. It seems as though formal project management training is becoming harder and harder to come by, and most people are learning on the job instead. This makes sense given the ever-changing industry landscape.

If we want to see project success rates increase, then we need to focus on things that will benefit both business and the value of our work. Not getting bogged down in discussions about what template to use or whether it's a "risk log" or "risk register."

Agile is the perfect way to work. It's reliable, repeatable, and brings massive benefits to the teams that do it well. However, it's still not widespread or adopted effectively by most businesses.

There is a growing trend of intelligent adoption of agile methodologies that better suits the context in which it is used. For example, more Kanban for operational teams, or Scrum of Scrum style set ups for larger organizations looking to scale.

Why it matters

We need to be able to change our methods and adapt them to the changing market conditions, but some projects still require input from specialists who are not part of a traditional multi-functional Scrum team. This means that we need different ways of working which can take into account the specific needs of each project.

Hybrid project management is a proven way to manage projects - we know that. This trend is important because it leads to better business outcomes. As project managers, we want our work to be valued and appreciated by our organization, and this can only happen if we deliver something brilliant that is worth their money. Who cares how you get there? The methodology isn't a competition.

The growing complexity of your project management environment is leading more managers to seek out mentors and coaches to help them learn from others. This makes it easier to tailor decisions based on your own experience and theoretical knowledge, as you have support and past experience to draw on as well as the insights of other managers.

What to do

Business integration and online business managers

Bringing all the different parts of any business together can be a challenge. But with the help of a business integrator, it can be easier than ever to get everything moving in the right direction. These professionals take on projects related to setting up and running your business, as well as helping you coordinate and manage all the different aspects of it.

Integration specialists are the perfect second-in-command for small business owners, juggling a lot of day-to-day project tasks while ensuring stakeholders and team members have everything they need to keep the project moving forward. Online business managers also have a large role in project management, as much knowledge work nowadays is project-led.

Why it matters

Project management is becoming increasingly popular, with many people choosing to do it as part of their role. The project profession cannot afford to overlook this group, or leave them behind.

What to do

Be sure to spot informal project managers in your organization, and support them where you can. For example, run a lunch and learn, offer to be a mentor and share resources. But don’t assume that just because you have the title ‘project manager’ that you know more about their work than they do. They are highly competent individuals, so show respect!