You know more than you think about project management, but it’s not enough.

Each day of your life you apply the phases of project management whether it’s a DIY project, e.g. painting a room, remodeling a house, or planning a birthday party. Though the complexity, budget, and timeline vary, each of these examples equips you with underlying skills that are essential to successful project management.

Ok, so what are these phases? And, what are these skills?

Unless you’re studying terminology through a formal course, it’s likely you’ll think of Initiation as “starting something new,” of Planning as “planning how to do the thing you’re starting,” Execution as “doing the tasks” outlined in Planning, Monitoring and Control as “seeing if things are going well, making sure tasks are being completed, and if not, making adjustments,” and Completion (or Closing) as “dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s.”

Now for the skills you learn by pretty much just doing adult tasks. These aren’t neatly situated within phases. They are, however, recognizable.

Here are some top skills you learn and continuously hone as you’re planning parties, completing DIY projects, or working on a set of tasks with others that culminates to a unique, time bound end point.

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