More and more organizations are making project management a part of their day-to-day strategy.

But if project managers want that progress to continue, they will have to play a key role in the effort to convince the corporate powers-that-be, according to Alfonso Bucero, PMP, managing partner and owner, Bucero PM Consulting, Madrid, Spain.

“To do this, project managers need to work on their leadership skills and take on more affirmative roles within their companies. One of the first steps is to speak more with upper management about the strategic part of project management,” says Mr. Bucero, who is also a contributing author to the book Project Management Circa 2025 [PMI, 2009].

“Explain to upper managers how projects in organizations contribute to organizational success,” he says. “Explain to them why projects must be linked to their organizational strategy.”

For example, even if you’re not invited to make formal reports to organizational leaders, feel free to suggest the link between projects and strategy yourself. Attend meetings so that you become more informed and then ask for 10 minutes to present on a project’s status.

If you show confidence in your efforts, your management team will begin to give you support, he says.

Mr. Bucero says that project managers also need to concentrate on individual growth. He points to three key areas where improvements can be made:

People Skills:
Technical skills have been cultivated over the last few years, but conversation and communication skills require even more practice.

“Training in [people] skills is needed, but the essential part is practice,” he says. “I encourage people to contribute to professional associations, like PMI, as volunteers. That way, they will be able to develop their [people] skills quicker, and they will work on teams of experienced professionals worldwide and will continue learning.”

Organizational Leadership:
Becoming more aligned with your company’s philosophy and being closer to how the business actually operates will help project managers make a greater contribution to business success, Mr. Bucero notes.

“Spending time in knowing more about the company philosophy, policies, procedures and ways of organizational operation is crucial for the project success,” he says.

Individual Professionalism:
Project managers are responsible for their own career development—and obtaining certification is just one way.

“Professionals who want to be certified must study the project management standards, but also, they must practice and network with other professionals who have similar problems and issues,” he says.

“My recommendation is that every project manager must be ready to learn at all times during his or her career. Observe and listen to your customers, colleagues and peers and you will learn a bit more every day.”