As a Program / Project Manager we know what the most challenging aspect of PM is: the people factor. And, a particularly challenging type of person to deal with I’ll refer to as The Wizard of Oz. PM’s - How many times have you been in a situation where you are asking important questions about … Continue reading PM & The Wizard of Oz

Five years ago, I walked into my boss’s office and said, “I quit.” Not because I was unhappy. But because sometimes life changes the priorities in front of you. Both of my wife's brothers have Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, and at the time, they were struggling to find the full time care they needed to survive. … Continue reading Success Looks Different Sometimes

In our professional lives we are often focused on growth, continuous improvement, and constantly learning new skills. Today I was reminded of the importance of something that can’t really be taught. Treating people like people. The highest performing teams don't become high performing simply because talented people happen to work near each other. The strongest … Continue reading What Can’t Be Taught

A lot of PMOs focus on process. The good ones focus on decisions and the people behind them. If your PMO is only tracking timelines and status, it is probably slowing things down instead of accelerating them. What I have seen work well is pretty simple. Define success metrics up front, not at the end … Continue reading Why Many PMOs Don’t Actually Add Value