The role of project sponsor is critical. With their support, projects have an opportunity for success. Without it, failure is almost certain, even for the most talented and capable teams. Despite this, there’s astonishingly little guidance in how to be a great project sponsor. And real life examples of awesome project sponsorship are few and far between.
Got a KPI For That?
While this is likely to come across as controversial, I’m going to say it anyway: If you care most about key performance indicators, then you likely don’t care about what matters most. And that’s a challenge. In my view, it’s a challenge of terminology, of ideology and of narrow-minded thinking masquerading as holistic solution. But semantics are important. And the words you use say a lot about what you value.
This Is How It (Doesn’t) Begin
I had a meeting with a prospective client the other day. The opportunity was to provide some training and facilitation with their executive team to help prepare them for the implementation of a new set of organizational project management practices. To anyone that knows me, this certainly has the prospect of being something of interest. […]
I Am A Process Geek
A personal confession: my professional career has been dedicated to process. While I appreciate the value of process, I am also challenged by how it is often implemented. It’s easy to ask for everything. It’s a lot harder to focus on what is essential and valuable.
Busy vs. Engaged
There is a seductive appeal to being busy. It creates the illusion of engaged, involved, vital. It can also be a sign that we are avoiding what matters. Taken to extremes, we are overwhelmed with work and unable to find meaning.
Defining What We Do
As a consultant and an entrepreneur, I have been marketing myself virtually my entire professional career. Given that stretches well over two decades now, you would assume that is something I would have become relatively good at. And in certain contexts I arguably have.