Building Strategy Awareness on the Job

Joe Wynne is a versatile Project Manager experienced in delivering medium-scope projects in large organizations that improve workforce performance and business processes. He has a proven track record of delivering effective, technology-savvy solutions in a variety of industries and a unique combination of strengths in both process management and workforce management.

  Career Development   Strategy  

You don’t need to be surprised if a conversation that includes business strategy pushes you beyond your comfort zone. For all the talk about the importance of having business acumen, the strategy component rarely has training available internally.

Today, strong execution is no longer enough to be a successful project manager. You need to be able to connect delivery to higher business goals. Knowledge of your organization’s business strategy shapes how you facilitate decisions and communicate alignment.

Fortunately, you can build this capability without leaving your current role or taking formal training. There is likely documentation of current strategy and descriptions of your organization’s place in the market. In addition, you can pay closer attention to the strategic topics in discussions already happening around your projects.

Identify Your Business Strategy Knowledge Gaps

Understanding strategy begins by recognizing what you don’t yet grasp. Awareness of these gaps helps you prioritize your learning.

• Note where gaps have surfaced in discussions about priorities, direction and risks.
• Notice when conversations shift toward wider business strategy, market differentiation, customer segmentation, data analytics, marketplace opportunities—and pinpoint where your understanding drops off.
• Capture unclear points and unfamiliar …

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