First Steps to Become a Good Project Manager

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A few days ago I had a pleasant surprise - a former coworker reached out to talk and ask for advice, which, however occasional it may be, is always flattering. She wanted to know more about the process for getting the PMP® certification - the best-known credential from the Project Management Professional program. The conversation - first over the phone, then a longer meeting at a café - started with a simple but very deep question: what’s the more immediate goal, learning about the profession or getting certified as a project management professional? Is getting certified even part of a good project manager’s first steps?

Here I share some valuable tips if you want to take your first steps toward becoming a good project manager, and of course, for everyone who later wants to get certified as a professional.

Getting certified and learning aren’t the same thing

A very common mistake is thinking that a certification course covers learning the profession itself. Many people link the process of “getting certified” to the process of “learning.” And I’m not just talking about learning standard terms or “the good practices” that PMI promotes. I mean that many people believe a course to prepare for a certification exam is a good course for learning project management from scratch.

I can assure you that a “PMP Exam Prep” course is not a course on project management. Therefore, this course shouldn’t be part of your first steps toward becoming a good project manager. Much of the course content assumes the participant already has experience. In other words, the course and exam content assumes you’ve lived through, and understand, the subtle difference between theory and its application.

Getting PMP certified doesn’t make you a better project manager

Certification is designed to demonstrate knowledge and experience in a specific domain. In the case of PMP, it’s an international certification from an institution that regularly works with ANSI and ISO . In other words, PMI runs a rigorous, strict process to define its standard and offer the certification. The last P in PMP stands for “Professional,” and therefore it validates field “experience.” Not just knowledge.

During a prep course, it’s possible to learn things. However, you won’t have time to apply, experiment with, or truly internalize that knowledge. How many people do you know who, once certified, suddenly consider themselves better professionals, as if by magic? Does an athlete become better by winning an Olympic Gold Medal?

Let’s not lie to ourselves - it’s the prior work, discipline, and effort that deserve the medal. Becoming a project manager is a process, not a certification. Every profession takes time, and to reach mastery, a lot of time.

There are countless pocket certifications out there. Plenty of PDFs with golden logos and fancy names that add nothing to the profession. These pocket certifications are junk, and they likely only fuel a mediocre market. Avoid the temptation and the shortcut.

Where to start to become a good project manager?

This list isn’t meant to be an exact recipe. Of course, the process depends on your prior experience and knowledge of project management. That said, here’s a short list that can be a big help.

Step 1: Learn about project management as a profession.

If you want to learn basic concepts and some theory, the best thing to do is read some books. Don’t be dazzled by fancy-sounding words and acronyms. Your first goal should be to discover that there’s a whole world of practices and tools out there to support you in your work - whether new or upcoming. Remember, the idea is to understand the theory, learn the jargon, and internalize some basic principles. Here’s a list of recommended books:

There are so many books I could recommend that I invite you to leave your own suggestions and links to other books in the comments.

Beyond books

Another option besides books can be a course - formal or informal, in person or online. Today there are many ways to learn. The offering of in-person courses at business schools and universities is extensive. The pandemic that began in 2020 also helped drive a huge increase in high-quality online content.

How to choose a good project management course?

Before signing up for any program, I’d encourage you to research and check the instructors’ backgrounds. A good program is, in essence, the magic of a good teaching team. Look for recommendations from friends and peers. Feedback from former students is key.

Here are a few basic online courses to confidently take those first steps toward becoming a good project manager:

PMI - the Project Management Institute - also offers its learning portal . It’s a great resource for beginners - unfortunately, a good part of the content is only available in English.

Step 2: Apply your knowledge

Project management at work

If you have a job where you actively take part in projects and can take on management responsibilities, step up. The best way to cement your knowledge is by applying it. My initial recommendation: apply it exactly as the literature says - by the book, as the experts would say. Learn each tool exactly as it was designed.

It’s not about swallowing everything whole - it’s about learning the value of things, respecting the effort of whoever designed them. I invite you to read a bit about the concept of Shuhari , from the martial arts world.

Volunteering to apply project management

On the other hand, if your job doesn’t allow you to apply project management, you can always take on volunteer work. Volunteering is full of vibrant options, and there’s always a need for more hands. They wouldn’t need volunteers otherwise.

Although it isn’t lucrative in monetary terms, it is from a professional perspective. Volunteering is a source of connections, opportunities, and, in my case, great friends. Look for current volunteer opportunities in your city, region, or country. Regularly check PMI’s volunteer system or the United Nations’ .

This tip is useful for anything you love doing. There are always associations or foundations that need volunteers and can help you experience whatever you’re passionate about.

Step 3. Share your experiences

There are different ways to share experiences. Here you can choose one:

Step 4. Certify your experience and knowledge

Some years back I had an early debate with a few academics about the importance of certification. Certifications, all of them, have very simple goals:

For those who earn the certification:

For those hiring certified people:

Here’s a tip: always look for a serious, well-backed certification that shows your interest in professional growth. Here are three key things to check in any certification:

  1. Which certifying body issues the certificate? Did you know it already? Does it have a global track record in that specific knowledge domain?
  2. What’s the international recognition of that certification? Do third parties back the process, such as ANSI or ISO?
  3. What academic backing does it have? Is there a rigorous process to apply? Remember, the value of any certification is tied to the professionals who hold it. Those who stand out in their performance will be good ambassadors. Otherwise, you’re just paying for a worthless piece of paper.

I hope this article helps you form a clearer idea of where to start. The steps to becoming a good project manager that I’ve presented are key. Still, there’s a lot more you can do to build your career.

This learning process never ends, so it’s not a destination - it’s a journey. And like everything in life, moving forward alone can be very efficient, but moving forward as a team is much more fun and rewarding. Look for peers and friends who share similar dreams. I’m happy to help if you find it valuable.

In the end you’ll understand that management is only possible thanks to the people and teams who work with you. That’s the real path of a good project manager.

· 8 min read · Last updated: 2026-09-12