If you want to learn project management, here are some good starting books to read

 No one really starts in school with project management in mind as a career path, so many PMs end up as transfers from other career starting points such as majors in science, business, marketing, finance, etc.  So I get asked a lot what books to recommend for people starting out in the PM field or interested in advancing their basic PM skills.

Some books I find that I continue to recommend again and again are:

1. "The Project Management Body of Knowledge" by Project Management Institute (PMI)
2. "A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide)" by Project Management Institute (PMI)
3. "Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity" by David Allen
4. "Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High" by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler
5. "The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses" by Eric Ries
6. "Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time" by Jeff Sutherland
7. "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change" by Stephen Covey
8. "The One Minute Manager" by Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson
9. "Managing Successful Projects with PRINCE2" by AXELOS
10. "Critical Chain" by Eliyahu M. Goldratt

These books cover a wide range of topics in project management, from the basics of project management methodologies and processes (particularly 1, 2, and 9 above) to specific techniques for increasing productivity and managing stakeholders. I think 3, 4, and 7 are great reads for any business person and are applicable far beyond project management.

What are the best project management software solutions?

I get asked a lot what the best PM software solutions are there to use. There are many project management software tools available in the market, each with its own unique features and benefits. Here are some of the most popular and highly recommended project management tools:

1. Trello: Trello is a visual collaboration tool that uses boards, lists, and cards to organize and prioritize tasks. It is easy to use and highly customizable, making it a popular choice for teams of all sizes.

2. Asana: Asana is a web and mobile application designed to help teams track and manage their work. It offers features such as task management, project management, collaboration, and reporting.

3. Jira: Jira is a popular project management tool that is often used by software development teams. It includes features such as issue tracking, project management, agile boards, and reporting.

4. Basecamp: Basecamp is an all-in-one project management tool that includes features such as task management, team communication, and file sharing. It is designed to be easy to use and highly customizable.

5. Microsoft Project: Microsoft Project is a comprehensive project management tool that offers features such as task scheduling, resource allocation, and budget tracking. It is often used by large organizations and project management professionals.

6. Monday.com: Monday.com is a visual project management tool that uses boards, timelines, and calendars to help teams track and manage their work. It offers features such as task management, team collaboration, and reporting.

Ultimately, the best project management tool for you and your team will depend on your specific needs and preferences. It's important to research and compare different tools before making a decision. Fortunately, some of those listed above have free trial options so make sure to take advantage of several if you can and stick with the one that works best for you.

You can easily find these project management tools by searching their names on any search engine or by going to their respective websites.

Here are the websites for the project management tools I mentioned at the time of writing:

1. Trello: https://trello.com/
2. Asana: https://asana.com/
3. Jira: https://www.atlassian.com/software/jira
4. Basecamp: https://basecamp.com/
5. Microsoft Project: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/project/project-management-software
6. Monday.com: https://monday.com/