The Secret Ingredient for PMO Success: Authentic Executive Engagement
Establishing an effective PMO requires executive leadership support. Lack of sustained management commitment is often a top reason for PMO failure. Authentic executive engagement creates organizational value by strategically aligning the PMO with leadership priorities.
Strong executive-PMO alignment unlocks enterprise-wide benefits like enhanced strategy execution, improved portfolio governance, and reduced project risks and costs.
Attributes of authentic executive engagement include incorporating the PMO into key decisions, providing public endorsement and air cover, connecting PMO goals to corporate strategy, actively communicating the PMO’s value, participating in project governance, reinforcing consistent methodology adoption, and evolving PMO influence over time.
How can PMO leaders cultivate authentic executive engagement?
- Clearly map PMO objectives to strategic priorities
- Position the PMO as an enabler of key initiatives
- Influence executives to mandate PMO methodology
- Establish governance roles for leaders
- Report value metrics aligned to executive concerns
- Provide dashboard visibility into projects
- Proactively communicate project risks
- Continuously capture leadership feedback
PMO leaders must take decisive action to cultivate authentic executive sponsorship:
- Clearly map PMO objectives to strategic priorities
- Position the PMO as an enabler of key initiatives
- Influence executives to mandate PMO methodology
- Establish governance roles for leaders
- Report value metrics aligned to executive concerns
- Provide dashboard visibility into projects
- Proactively communicate project risks
- Continuously capture leadership feedback
The time for engagement is now. With strong executive alignment, PMOs can elevate their strategic impact and enable enterprise excellence. The first step begins with you - will you lead the charge?
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