PMO Strategies

Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!PMI Talent Triangle: Power SkillsHow many certifications do you need before you’re “ready”? One more? Two?Here’s the truth: you’ll never feel ready by studying more. Because credibility doesn’t come from the letters after your name. It comes from the battles you’ve won, the chaos you’ve managed, and the decisions you’ve made when there was no textbook answer.In this episode, I am sharing the credential trap I hear constantly from PMO leaders and project professionals: “I’m not ready yet.” “I need to know more.” “Once I have my [insert acronym], then I’ll be taken seriously.”This mindset isn’t protecting you; it’s paralyzing you. Chasing certifications can feel like progress while keeping you stuck in “polished procrastination,” especially when it’s the typical cram, exam, and forget cycle.You’ll learn:✅ Why certifications can give you frameworks and language, but not credibility.✅ How “one more certification” often becomes polished procrastination.✅ Why executives don’t care what you know, but what you can do with that knowledge.✅ How your real-world experience becomes proof that earns a seat at the table.✅ What to look for in a certification if you want real application, not memorization.👉 Press play to stop waiting to feel “qualified enough,” own the credibility you’ve already earned, and lead with the confidence that comes from doing the work and delivering IMPACT.P.S. If you're ready to move beyond task tracking and prove your PMO's strategic value, it’s time to claim your seat in the IMPACT Engine Practitioner Certification program. This isn't about collecting another credential for your resume; it's about mastering a proven system that gets you a seat at the leadership table. Learn more and register today!Thanks for taking the time to check out the podcast!I welcome your feedback and insights! I’d love to know what you think and if you love it, please leave a rating and review in your favorite podcast player. Please leave a comment below to share your thoughts. See you online!Warmly,Laura BarnardGET NOTIFIED ABOUT NEW EPISODES | TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN | PDU REPORTING INSTRUCTIONSMentioned in this episode:339: You Are Not Your Certifications

Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!PMI Talent Triangle: Business AcumenIf you’ve spent any time in project delivery, you’ve probably heard the phrase “delivering value” more times than you can count. Leaders talk about driving outcomes, creating value streams, and measuring benefits. Yet right when you think everyone’s aligned on what that means, it becomes clear that no one’s talking about the same thing. In this episode, I’m joined by Trevor Nelson, a seasoned project leader who’s helped organizations across industries redefine how they see and deliver value. Together, we explore what value truly is, where it lives across the project lifecycle, and the critical role the PMO plays in protecting that intent from idea to outcome. You’ll Learn: ✅ Why “value” isn’t a fixed metric and changes based on intent and perception. ✅ How to identify where value really lives across the project continuum. ✅ The difference between producing deliverables and delivering outcomes. ✅ Why PMOs must be involved early to guide alignment and sustain intent. ✅ How focusing on intent turns the PMO into a trusted business partner. 👉 Press play to learn how redefining value can transform your PMO from a process office into a true strategic navigator that protects intent, accelerates outcomes, and drives measurable IMPACT. Connect with Trevor: Follow him on LinkedIn Visit NelsonProject.com P.S. Ready to transform your PMO into a strategic powerhouse? Our IMPACT Engine System can help you elevate your PMO’s role and drive organizational success. Register today to explore how we can support your journey towards strategic alignment and influence. Thanks for taking the time to check out the podcast!I welcome your feedback and insights! I’d love to know what you think and if you love it, please leave a rating and review in your favorite podcast player. Please leave a comment below to share your thoughts. See you online!Warmly,Laura BarnardGET NOTIFIED ABOUT NEW EPISODES | TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN | PDU REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS

Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!PMI Talent Triangle: Power SkillsEvery great project tells a story, and the best ones play out like blockbuster movies. In this episode, I'm joined by Dawn Mahan, co-editor of Projectland Goes to the Movies and author of Meet the Players in Projectland. We're talking about how more than 20 experts used their favorite films to share timeless lessons on vision, leadership, and collaboration. If you've ever wished project management felt more like directing a hit film and less like fighting through endless plot twists, this one's for you. I'll show you how the same principles that drive movie success—clarity of vision, confident direction, and authentic teamwork—also define the projects that deliver real IMPACT. Plus, you'll get a behind-the-scenes look at my own chapter inspired by Moneyball and Dawn's by The Italian Job. What You'll Learn: How movie storytelling mirrors every stage of project success The leadership lessons hidden in popular films Why every PMO leader needs to think like a director How to turn chaos, change, and conflict into collaboration that wins 👉 Press play to discover how the art of great filmmaking can help you set the vision, direct the action, and create your own story of IMPACT in Projectland. Connect with Dawn: Follow Dawn on LinkedIn Visit PMOtraining.com Access Meet the Players in Projectland 🎧 Companion Episode: Don't miss Episode 250—How to Build a PMO That Drives Results for deeper insights on this topic. Receive a confidential sample of Meet the Players in Projectland: Decide the Right Project Roles & Get People on Board P.S. Ready to lead where strategy happens? The IMPACT Accelerator Mastermind gives you the coaching, tools, and community you need to stop operating like a support function and start driving the business outcomes your executives are counting on. Click here to learn more! 🚀Thanks for taking the time to check out the podcast!I welcome your feedback and insights! I’d love to know what you think and if you love it, please leave a rating and review in your favorite podcast player. Please leave a comment below to share your thoughts. See you online!Warmly,Laura BarnardGET NOTIFIED ABOUT NEW EPISODES | TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN |...

Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!PMI Talent Triangle: Power SkillsYour words either build trust or break it. And when you talk like you're overwhelmed, you train your leaders to doubt your capacity—even if you're actually capable of more. In this episode, I'm sharing the unintended cost of sounding stressed and how high-performing leaders can protect their credibility by changing how they communicate under pressure. I walk you through how language shapes perception, why leaders often send the wrong signals without realizing it, and how to shift from overwhelm to ownership without pretending everything's fine. If you've ever said "I'm slammed" or "We're swamped" in a status meeting, when what you meant was "We've got it under control," this episode is for you. What You'll Learn: Why saying "we're overwhelmed" chips away at leadership trust How to frame pressure with structure instead of stress What executives actually hear when you vent Real-world leadership language that builds confidence How to communicate risk and ask for support without spiraling 👉 Press play to learn how to lead through pressure and talk like the leader they trust with more. P.S. Ready to transform your PMO into a strategic powerhouse? Our IMPACT Engine System can help you elevate your PMO’s role and drive organizational success. Register today to explore how we can support your journey towards strategic alignment and influence. Thanks for taking the time to check out the podcast!I welcome your feedback and insights! I’d love to know what you think and if you love it, please leave a rating and review in your favorite podcast player. Please leave a comment below to share your thoughts. See you online!Warmly,Laura BarnardGET NOTIFIED ABOUT NEW EPISODES | TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN | PDU REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS

Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!PMI Talent Triangle: Power SkillsPMO leaders are great at execution. They know how to plan, deliver, and measure. But when change accelerates, those same strengths can become constraints. What’s missing isn’t discipline or process—it’s imagination. A failure of imagination is what causes teams to drift, leaders to burn out, and organizations to lose alignment. We picture success differently, chase separate goals, and end up working harder without getting closer to what really matters. Imagination isn’t fluff—it’s a serious strategic tool that helps you see around corners, prepare for what’s next, and create shared clarity before execution begins. In this episode, you’ll learn how to use imagination as a competitive advantage. Dr. Rebecca Sutherns shares how PMO and transformation leaders can stretch their thinking with her ELASTIC leadership framework—and how imagination, when practiced collectively, can align stakeholders, energize teams, and turn your PMO into a true strategic IMPACT engine. You'll Learn: Why a failure of imagination leads to misalignment and drift. How to build a shared, vivid vision that aligns people. How to use imagination to strengthen strategy, not replace it. What the ELASTIC leadership framework teaches about leadership. A simple way to bring imagination into your next planning conversation. 👉 Press play to see how imagination can move your PMO from order-taker to strategy-shaper—and help you lead the future, not just respond to it. P.S. Ready to lead where strategy happens? The IMPACT Accelerator Mastermind gives you the coaching, tools, and community you need to stop operating like a support function and start driving the business outcomes your executives are counting on. Click here to learn more! 🚀Connect with Dr. Rebecca Sutherns: Follow her on LinkedIn Listen to her podcast interviewsThanks for taking the time to check out the podcast!I welcome your feedback and insights! I’d love to know what you think and if you love it, please leave a rating and review in your favorite podcast player. Please leave a comment below to share your thoughts. See you online!Warmly,Laura BarnardGET NOTIFIED ABOUT NEW EPISODES | TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN | PDU REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS