International Project Management Day

Of all the things I’ve done, the most vital is coordinating the talents of those who work for us and pointing them at a common goal.

Walt Disney

There’s a huge project on the table, the kind of project that takes months if not years to finish, and dozens if not hundreds of people to properly manage. The resources needed for this are going to be immense, and keeping all the moving parts coordinated will no doubt be a challenge for the ages.

Without being properly managed, the whole thing will fall apart, or at the very least take much longer and more money than it should. Who do we look to when we find a situation like this? Project Managers. International Project Management Day honors the Project Manager and encourages the people and organizations that rely on them to do the same.

History of International Project Management Day

All things are created twice; first mentally; then physically. The key to creativity is, to begin with, the end in mind, with a vision and a blueprint of the desired result.

Stephen Covey

International Project Management Day first came about in 2004, spearheaded by E. LaVerne Johnson and Lori Milhaven in conjunction with the men and women of the IIL (International Institute for Learning) team. They knew the hard work that project managers do, and how much they add to a project coming off efficiently and on time, with all the p’s and q’s crossed.

Project Managers make sure that everything’s moving smoothly, and work in every industry and sector, from, government to volunteer. International Project Management Day focuses on bringing the recognition they deserve for helping our greatest goals come about with smooth competence.

How to celebrate International Project Management Day

The International Institute for Learning celebrate International Project Management Day each year by hosting a virtual conference on their website, consisting of keynotes and Q&A sessions.

Celebrating Project Managers is best done by a show of appreciation from the organization at large. Special meetings and events can be put together to have the company and staff show their appreciation, and give people not used to being project managers a chance to see what it’s all about and how complex even the smallest project can be to organize.

Even if this isn’t possible or practical, it would be a show of proper respect to present them with cards, or a gift basket, or even a day off (but you better make sure it fits into their project plan, everything must be compensated for). Take a moment to show the people who manage your projects how much you appreciate them on International Project Management Day.