Free Lunches for Project Managers?

In my dual role as Aspira CEO and President of the Ireland Chapter PMI, there are lots of Project Management events that I attend. For anyone who is a Certified PM, it's a habit to look out for opportunities to pick up some Continuous Professional Development credits (aka PDUs). But those events are not only of interested to Project Managers - a lot are interesting, regardless whether you are a PM or not. Here are three things that may be of interest, two of which are free and one is discounted!

My company Aspira is running a free "Lunch & Learn" session in Dublin on Weds Feb 28th. The title is "Risky Business" and rather than an old Tom Cruise movie it's a chance to hear Barry Kenny (Corporate Comms Manager for Iarnród Éireann) share some war stories on how Communication plays a vital role when dealing with a crisis situation. It's an opportunity to earn a free PDU, and it's an opportunity to get a free lunch (yes, these really do exist*).

Barry is a great speaker - funny and engaging - and well able to handle tough questions, as evidenced by his performance when being grilled by many radio interviewers on news and current affair shows. Even though attendance is free, places are limited so if you would like to attend please register by clicking this link at: the registration site

Secondly, the Communications Director for the Ireland Chapter PMI, Rob O'Donohue, has created a Podcast for people interested in Project Management to listen to. The first episode (16 mins) has recently come out and has zoomed to the upper reaches of the iTunes Podcast Charts in the Education category. I like listen to podcasts when travelling or walking the dog, so if you do too, try subscribing to Rob's new podcast and check out episode one at iTunes here : Chapter Podcast Link The podcast gives an insight into the people who run projects in Ireland - how they ended up where they are, how they do their job, what they enjoy and what they'd like to change.

Thirdly, the showpiece event for Project Managers in Ireland each year is the National PM Conference, to be held this year in the Aviva Stadium on Thurs April 26th. The formal press release announcing the conference is due out next week, so I wouldn't be forgiven for issuing any spoilers [except to say that Anton Savage from the Communications Clinic will be the MC for the day and delivering a talk on how Project Managers can communicate effectively]. While all the Chapter evening events are free to attend, this is the one event that has a charge and it is always a really great day. For the next couple of weeks the Early Bird rate applies, so go check it out at: Conference Registration Page

It promises to be a great event, with a variety of interesting speakers from different walks of life, united by the common theme of the Conference - they are all 'Change Makers'. If the prospect of participating in the best PM event of the year, and gaining 8 PDUs for attending doesn't float your boat - you also get a free lunch* and a free tour of the Aviva stadium thrown in!

I've just realised the common thread between all three events I've mentioned here is around Communication (although free lunch comes in a close second). It shouldn't be a surprise that Comms is such an integral part of the Project Manager's skill-set. It doesn't matter how technically brilliant you may be - in order to be a great PM you must be able to understand your audience, and communicate in a way that can be understood. It helps as a PM to be a decent speaker - but it's more important to be a good listener.

It's said we were given two ears and one mouth as a reminder that we should use them in that proportion. Worth remembering.

Looking forward to seeing some of you at our Lunch & Learn event in Dublin Feb 28th an the National Conference at the Aviva on April 26th.

*of course the lunches aren't free - you'll either have to hand over your email address, your first-born child or your soul (most PMs have already sold their souls though!).