Project managers—and all professionals, really—pursue credentials in their field for a variety of reasons: to advance their knowledge and skills, to build their reputation, to earn a promotion, or to get a pay raise. All of these are perfectly valid reasons for seeking a credential. Project managers who really stand out from the crowd, however, are those who view credentials as a starting point for their careers and as a means to increasing their impact as a project manager.

Here at Cheetah Learning, we’ve noticed that our certified project management students, such as the Project Management Professional (PMP) or Cheetah Certified Project Manager (CCPM), who make the most difference and experience the greatest success in their careers do four key things. These project managers are committed to being a positive role model to new PMs, continual growth and improvement, finding and developing their own and others’ strengths, and leveraging all of their sources of capital in carrying out their projects.

 …