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The Virtual PM

Get the latest in Project Management with The Virtual PM newsletter: expert tips, tech trends, leadership insights, and tools like checklists, assessments, templates. šŸ‘‰šŸ½ www.thevirtualpm.org šŸ‘‰šŸ½ www.thevirtualpm.digital

New Year resolutions january
Featured Post

If This Year Feels Busy but Unclear, Read This

Connect with Donna on LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube Hey Reader, Every January comes with the same quiet pressure. Start over.Rebuild.Become someone new. You see it everywhere. New versions of people who swear this is the year everything finally changes. But here’s the question most people don’t stop to ask: What if the problem isn’t that you haven’t reinvented yourself yet? What if it’s that you keep trying to? Most change efforts don’t fail because of laziness or lack of...

how to lead a team

Hello Reader, If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a Leadership Development Consultant, it’s this... You don’t need to be the loudest voice in the room to be the most respected. But you do need to be the clearest. The calmest under pressure. The most consistent when things get messy. Because... people don’t follow titles. They follow trust. And trust is built by how you show up—again and again and again. You have to learn how to lead in a way that makes people feel safe. Safe to speak up....

how to step out of your comfort zone at work

Hello Reader, Here’s something I learned the hard way... Leadership isn’t just about being good at your job. It’s about being seen as someone who can handle more. There was a time in my career where I was doing everything right. I was dependable. Organized. Got things done. I thought that was enough. But I stayed stuck in the same role for years. šŸ˜ž Why? Because I wasn’t showing up as a leader—I was just performing the tasks in front of me. No one was going to pull me aside and say, ā€œYou’re...

How to be indispensable in the workplace

Hello Reader, Ever wondered why some people get tapped for leadership roles while others—just as capable—get passed over?I know you know what I mean....The truth is, being great at your job isn’t always enough. You can do everything right and still get passed over if no one sees your leadership potential. Because in today’s workplace, if you don’t know how to lead out loud—you’ll quietly stay stuck. It’s not always about seniority. Or technical skills. Or even experience. Most of the time?...

How to get promoted at work

Hello Reader, Is this you? If you're employed at an organization, or you're working with a client, you may feel that you’ve outgrown your role. The work suddenly feels too small for the skills you’ve developed. You’ve taken on more. Stepped up. Solved problems no one asked you to. But the recognition? The promotion? The title? The salary increase? Still out of reach. Here’s what no one tells you: You can’t just wait to be noticed. You have to start showing up as a leader before anyone gives...

how to be a project manager in 2025

Hello Reader, I remember sitting in a meeting, hearing about a new project kicking off… and waiting. Waiting for someone to say, ā€œDonna, you should lead this.ā€ They didn’t. But I knew I could do it. I wanted to do it. I’d already done the heavy lifting on projects just like it. That’s when it hit me: no one was going to give me permission.I had to step up and claim it. And the minute I did, things moved quickly—new roles, higher rates, bigger trust.That one choice set everything in motion....

how can i become a project manager

Hello Reader, Every week, I hear from people who say: ā€œI want to become a project manager, but I don’t know where to start.ā€ And I get it.The first thing you see when you search online is a bunch of articles telling you to get certified. Most of them suggest the PMP—which costs $405 to $555 just to take the exam. That doesn’t include prep courses, which can easily push your total cost to $1,000-$3000 or more. Here’s what no one tells you:You don’t need a certification to get your foot in the...

Why do you need leadership skills

Hello Reader, Here’s something I learned the hard way Leadership isn’t just about being good at your job. It’s about being seen as someone who can handle more. There was a time in my career where I was doing everything right. I was dependable. Organized. Got things done. I thought that was enough. But I stayed stuck in the same role for years. Why? Because I wasn’t showing up as a leader—I was just performing the tasks in front of me. No one was going to pull me aside and say, ā€œYou’re ready.ā€...

How to be a project manager without experience or certification

Hello Reader, I didn’t wake up one day and decide, ā€œI’m going to be a project manager.ā€ It was more like: I looked around one day and realized I’d already been doing it.Checking in on people. Making the plan. Solving problems before they got out of hand. But at the time, because I didn’t have a certification… I didn’t think it ā€œcounted.ā€ The truth? It absolutely counted.And once I learned how to position what I was already doing, everything shifted.The roles got better. The pay got higher....

How to be a project manager without certification

Hello Reader, It's crazy to me how many people are already project managers without the title.... but they're doing project management work for free. I created a few questions below so we can assess whether being a project manager is in your future. šŸ”® Answer them honestly in your head with a YES or NO. Do you....?1ļøāƒ£ Always end up leading the group project—even when you didn’t sign up for it?2ļøāƒ£ Organize birthday parties, weekend trips, or family schedules? 3ļøāƒ£ Get asked ā€œCan you just follow...