Trainer Mark He once joked that the PRINCE2 book is perfect for insomnia. So yes, let's just get straight to the point: the theory of PRINCE2 is actually quite boring. That is also where the challenge of self-study lies; if you have absolutely no feel for the method yet, where do you start?
Mark's very first remark regarding self-study and PRINCE2 is therefore: 'Good luck'. He says it with a laugh, but he means it. For Mark knows better than anyone how tempting the idea of self-study is—just messing around a bit in your own time. But he also knows how quickly you discover that understanding the theory is something completely different from applying it when it really matters.
PRINCE2 makes sense. And that is precisely the challenge.
The tricky thing about PRINCE2, strangely enough, is that it all sounds so incredibly logical. It is a best practice, a lesson from real-world experience on how good projects work. When you read the material, you quickly think: Yeah duh, I'm actually already doing thisAnd that is correct, because many people are already applying parts of PRINCE2 without calling it that.
However, logic on paper is something different from it. on the spot Apply this when you are in a meeting, the pressure is mounting, and everyone is looking at you. 'You are not yet on top of the material then,' Mark explains, 'and you don't always have the right logic at hand.' Being on top of the material means you can fall back on it effortlessly, even when things get tense. You build that self-confidence by doing, practicing, and learning from the people around you. Not by plowing through a book on your own.
Look in multiple kitchens at the same time
Another nice perk that training gives you is contact with peers. Mark explains: 'The advantage of taking a training course is that you can look behind the scenes in multiple departments at the same time. You learn an incredible amount from that. You sit at the table with project managers from very different organizations, each with their own approach, their own challenges, and their own way of working.'
Sometimes you see how someone else tackles a problem and think: hey, that's smart, I'll take that on board. Of course, it is also possible that you realize your organization has arranged something better than you thought. At such moments, others can learn something from you. That exchange, that recognition, gives you something you will never find at a desk at home.
Resistance to PRINCE2? No need at all!
Many people enter a PRINCE2 training with resistance. They think it is bureaucratic, too cumbersome, and too big for the way they work. Mark hears this regularly, and he visibly enjoys turning that thought around: 'Then I say: there is a high risk that you are already doing much more PRINCE2 than you ever intended. Because you are probably already doing it, just without calling it that. A training makes that visible, and that gives instant self-confidence.'
In other words: you are already an incredibly good project manager! Instead of being unconsciously competent, training makes you consciously competent. And you gain the tools to make adjustments where things aren't quite going right in your daily work.
After the training, you will have a solid foundation to build upon. Ultimately, that is what makes you a professional: you continue to develop.
When is self-study actually right for you?
Throw all self-study and e-learning in the trash then? No, certainly not! At Lagant, we are actually big fans of e-learning. The trick, however, is knowing what offers you the most optimal learning experience. Have you been working with PRINCE2 for a while, perhaps taken a training course before, or do you just want to refresh your knowledge? Then an e-learning course is perfect!
Even if you know you have little time and are tied to the evening hours to study, then by all means: do it. On the other hand, do you feel the need to thoroughly understand PRINCE2, spar with peers, and thus make it a logical part of your work, and do you sometimes struggle with procrastination? Then choose a training course, because:
- You rise above the subject matter; suddenly you see connections you didn't see before.
- You build your network; there is nothing more enjoyable than diving deep into the subject matter with peers.
- You bring in your own cases, so what you learn is immediately applicable.
- You can look into multiple kitchens to see how they do it there.
And as a bonus: you get access to Lagant's online PRINCE2 learning environment.
Whatever you choose, PRINCE2 is the most widely used project management methodology worldwide. And for good reason: it works.
Will we see you soon in one of our training sessions?
Check out our calendar for your PRINCE2 training. Are you unsure what suits you best at this point in your career? Submit your question to us, and we will take a look with you, free of charge and without obligation.
