Weekly Roundup: The Hard Skills of Project Management
How can we evolve the profession without throwing out the baby with the bathwater?
There’s a lot of talk about soft skills in project management and for good reason. But this week, we asked a different question:
Are hard skills still relevant?
And if they are, how do we develop them in a world where tools do the work for us?
From real-world hiring stories to reflections on AI and the future of talent, this week explored what it takes to build strong project professionals, and why skipping the fundamentals could be the downfall of the profession.
This Week’s Highlights
🎙️ PM Matters Ep. 8: Interview with Mark Engelhardt
Mark reminds us that project management isn’t just formal education but real life experiences. We talked about professional journeys and roles along the way. He shared great nuggets of wisdom for PM practitioners new and old. ▶️ Watch here
📰 Monday Article: Are Hard Skills Dead?
A deep dive into how hard skills fit into the modern PM role. We discussed why we can't afford to let them disappear. 📖 Read here
🎥 CtrlAltPMO Ep. 29: The Interview that Changed Everything
Sometimes we have to demonstrate competence not just by words but also by actions. This was such a story where I was asked to demonstrate skill before I was given a chance. ▶️ Watch here
📰 Wednesday Article: Building Hard Skills in the Age of AI
We’re cutting junior roles before we’ve built the path forward. If we destroy the pipeline, we destroy the profession. 📖 Read here
🎥 CtrlAltPMO Ep. 30: One Comment That Broke Trust
Hard skills won’t save you when soft skills fail. A single comment derails momentum and becomes a lesson in trust and communication. ▶️ Watch here
🎧 PM Debate Archive Ep. 10: Should PMs Develop Their Teams?
A throwback episode where we debated the motion: “The project manager is not responsible for developing team member skills.” A punchy conversation on delivery vs. development, expectations, and leadership. ▶️ Listen here
3 Signals From the Week
AI can automate, but it can’t interpret. We still need humans who understand the why, not just the what.
Hard skills build credibility. If we skip the fundamentals today, we weaken tomorrow’s leaders.
Soft skills don’t replace hard skills. They carry the momentum but they don’t build the foundation.
Your Turn
What’s your take? Are we over-correcting toward soft skills? Is your team still investing in technical fundamentals?
Hit reply and let’s discuss. Also, don’t forget to forward this to someone who’s hiring PMs right now.