Blog
Aug 23, 2023
Project Managers as Strategic Leaders – in the C-suite and Beyond
In the dynamic world of project management, where professionals transform dreams into reality, breaking through leadership barriers is a common challenge. PMI CEO Pierre Le Manh recently sat down with Laura Barnard, Chief Impact Driver at PMO Strategies, at the PMO Impact Summit to discuss practical strategies for reaching new heights of leadership. Project professionals turn dreams into reality by getting things done. But even in a profession centered around the ability to turn ambitious ideas and strategies into tangible outcomes, we continue to see a gap for project managers in reaching higher-level positions of leadership. I recently had the opportunity to share some of my thoughts on how project managers can rise to new heights of leadership with Laura Barnard, Chief Impact Driver at PMO Strategies, at the PMO Impact Summit. The Summit is devoted to bringing together PMO and delivery leaders in sharing ideas and best practices for elevating their roles and impact. As Laura said, “A common challenge for project professionals is being seen as a strategic leader. I can’t tell you the number of times that project professionals have come up to me and said, "My executive says I need to be more strategic, but I don’t know how to do that.” We talked about some of the common barriers and challenges that project professionals face in elevating their roles. Clear communication is critical Some takeaways from our discussion: It is critical to clearly communicate the value of project management to senior executives in language that resonates with them. Beyond traditional metrics like schedule, scope, and risk, project professionals must be able to clarify how their work aligns with broader strategic goals and how it makes an impact on the whole organization, both financially and non-financially, but also to express them in a very simple language, avoiding jargons or even words that senior executives may use differently, such as “value.” In short, think through the CEO perspective and what outcomes an executive would prioritize. Focus on Outcomes: Emphasize the expected outcomes and benefits of your project rather than just the technical details or processes; tie these outcomes to the organization's strategic objectives, showing how the project contributes to long-term strategy implementation success, how it benefits the business and/or its customers. Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to quantify the potential impact of your project. Numbers and concrete evidence are more persuasive than vague statements. Tell a Compelling Story: Frame...
Aug 23, 2023
Blog 2
In the dynamic world of project management, where professionals transform dreams into reality, breaking through leadership barriers is a common challenge. PMI CEO Pierre Le Manh recently sat down with Laura Barnard, Chief Impact Driver at PMO Strategies, at the PMO Impact Summit to discuss practical strategies for reaching new heights of leadership. Project professionals turn dreams into reality by getting things done. But even in a profession centered around the ability to turn ambitious ideas and strategies into tangible outcomes, we continue to see a gap for project managers in reaching higher-level positions of leadership. I recently had the opportunity to share some of my thoughts on how project managers can rise to new heights of leadership with Laura Barnard, Chief Impact Driver at PMO Strategies, at the PMO Impact Summit. The Summit is devoted to bringing together PMO and delivery leaders in sharing ideas and best practices for elevating their roles and impact. As Laura said, “A common challenge for project professionals is being seen as a strategic leader. I can’t tell you the number of times that project professionals have come up to me and said, "My executive says I need to be more strategic, but I don’t know how to do that.” We talked about some of the common barriers and challenges that project professionals face in elevating their roles. Clear communication is critical Some takeaways from our discussion: It is critical to clearly communicate the value of project management to senior executives in language that resonates with them. Beyond traditional metrics like schedule, scope, and risk, project professionals must be able to clarify how their work aligns with broader strategic goals and how it makes an impact on the whole organization, both financially and non-financially, but also to express them in a very simple language, avoiding jargons or even words that senior executives may use differently, such as “value.” In short, think through the CEO perspective and what outcomes an executive would prioritize. Focus on Outcomes: Emphasize the expected outcomes and benefits of your project rather than just the technical details or processes; tie these outcomes to the organization's strategic objectives, showing how the project contributes to long-term strategy implementation success, how it benefits the business and/or its customers. Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to quantify the potential impact of your project. Numbers and concrete evidence are more persuasive than vague statements. Tell a Compelling Story: Frame...
Aug 23, 2023
Blog 3
In the dynamic world of project management, where professionals transform dreams into reality, breaking through leadership barriers is a common challenge. PMI CEO Pierre Le Manh recently sat down with Laura Barnard, Chief Impact Driver at PMO Strategies, at the PMO Impact Summit to discuss practical strategies for reaching new heights of leadership. Project professionals turn dreams into reality by getting things done. But even in a profession centered around the ability to turn ambitious ideas and strategies into tangible outcomes, we continue to see a gap for project managers in reaching higher-level positions of leadership. I recently had the opportunity to share some of my thoughts on how project managers can rise to new heights of leadership with Laura Barnard, Chief Impact Driver at PMO Strategies, at the PMO Impact Summit. The Summit is devoted to bringing together PMO and delivery leaders in sharing ideas and best practices for elevating their roles and impact. As Laura said, “A common challenge for project professionals is being seen as a strategic leader. I can’t tell you the number of times that project professionals have come up to me and said, "My executive says I need to be more strategic, but I don’t know how to do that.” We talked about some of the common barriers and challenges that project professionals face in elevating their roles. Clear communication is critical Some takeaways from our discussion: It is critical to clearly communicate the value of project management to senior executives in language that resonates with them. Beyond traditional metrics like schedule, scope, and risk, project professionals must be able to clarify how their work aligns with broader strategic goals and how it makes an impact on the whole organization, both financially and non-financially, but also to express them in a very simple language, avoiding jargons or even words that senior executives may use differently, such as “value.” In short, think through the CEO perspective and what outcomes an executive would prioritize. Focus on Outcomes: Emphasize the expected outcomes and benefits of your project rather than just the technical details or processes; tie these outcomes to the organization's strategic objectives, showing how the project contributes to long-term strategy implementation success, how it benefits the business and/or its customers. Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to quantify the potential impact of your project. Numbers and concrete evidence are more persuasive than vague statements. Tell a Compelling Story: Frame...