Tips to Impress the Risk Executive

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.

  Communications Management   Risk Management   Strategy   Work Breakdown Structures (WBS)  

Risk executives are more prevalent and more powerful than ever in the matrixed project environment. If you want to build a critical set of skills in project management, then you must learn how to impress the risk executive aligned with your project. The job title may be Chief Risk Officer or something else; your ability to initiate the relationship successfully and maintain effective interactions will get you respected as a project manager.

Get the best first impression while developing your business justification. Your first question may be, “Just how early must I involve the risk executive?” The answer, in fact, is “very early” if you want to start the relationship on the right foot. Risk is an issue that affects higher levels of the organization’s profitability. If your organization has established project portfolio management, then there should be already some related analysis in the process. In any case, you should make sure that a risk executive reviews and has input into the business case for your project. Explain that you are aware of the importance of that input.

Define the project relationship during planning. A risk officer can help you come up with a project management plan. First off, there is a risk management section where the risk officer may have a specific methodology and tools to follow. Be very specific that you will …

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