How can I improve my project management skills

Books/Trainings will give you THEORY.. which is good... But Actual gain is when you execute projects as Project Manager. Manaing resources ( who sometimes are not reporting to you).. Sponsors, Cost, Time etc.. are learnt Practically.

1. Gain experience. Continue to look for opportunities to gain project management experience. Depending on your job situation, you may find these opportunities to be readily available, or you may have to be alert and dig around a little. Since project events can be unpredictable, and since you are dealing with people, much of what you will learn and remember is based on prior experience.
2. Increase your responsibility. In addition to continuing to gain project management experience, you also want to try to manage larger and larger projects, or multiple smaller ones. The complexities involved with managing larger projects will stretch your skills and your limits.
3. Be successful. I suppose it goes without saying that if you have opportunities to be a project manager, you need to take advantage of them. This means you have to find a way to be successful. I knew of an experienced technical person who wanted to be a project manager. The problem was that the person failed miserably on his first project management assignment. This wasn’t so much of a training issue as it was a mindset issue. The person enjoyed the technical side of the project and was not able to focus on the work required for project management. Needless to say, the organization was not ready to give him another opportunity soon.
4. Formal training. If you have some level of experience, I think training can be an effective way to learn additional project management techniques and practices. This can be instructor-led or self-taught training. Many classes contain exercises where you can practice the skills you are learning.
5. Find a mentor or coach. In addition to formal training, you might try to identify a person from your company, or someone else you know that is a successful project manager. If you can find the right person, ask them if they will provide ongoing coaching to you on what things they do to be successful. The coach has limited value if you are not actively managing a project, since one of the major benefits is to ask questions based on real situations that you are encountering today.
6. Join professional organizations. Search out what project management associations are available in your area. The largest is the Project Management Institute (PMI), which has chapters all over the world. These organizations provide an opportunity to network with other project managers, as well as sponsor training and other professional development classes. PMI also sponsors a project management professional (PMP) certification that is recognized more and more as a sign that the individual is experienced and possesses an advanced understanding of project management processes and techniques.
7. Dig deep into the Web. If you enter ”project management” into any of the major Internet search engines, you will find hundred of links. Many of these are for people selling training, services, or software, but there are some very good Web sites that focus on project management. TechRepublic is a good example of a Web site that publishes content, templates, and discussion every week that is of value to a project manager.
8. Learn about related topics. When you think of project management, you normally think about the planning and controlling aspects of the job. Don’t forget that to be truly successful, you have to have good soft skills as well. This includes good written and verbal communication ability, as well as good listening, conflict resolution, and performance management skills. If you can manage issues, scope, risk, and quality in a perfect manner, but no one on your team can stand you, then you probably are not going to be successful. These skills need to grow and improve as well as you progress though your career.
9. Read books and magazines. There are hundreds of books available on general project management and specific subsets. Find time to read some when you can. Authors each have a way of describing aspects of project management that are different than others, and they can provide perspectives that you may not have thought about before.

In sample answer ,((  Update Yourself  )) meaning must always being update in your field through learining / reading / looking for update on line / takeing courses / Practise more and more , finally as much your give to update yourself as much will gain in the future in order to be Unique in your field and not like others. 

There are many many ways in improving PM skills. Possibly, consider attending PM training and seminars offered by universities, training centers, or maybe online training. Read books and research about PM tecniques, tools and experiences that means- updating yourself of the PM trends nowadays. Implement what you know in you work. Talked with the experts. Be observant.