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Guessing is not a strategy: How to build decision velocity with AI and real-time data
June 10, 2026 | Live Webinar
One of the major risks facing our projects today is data – and all the problems that can arise when the wrong data falls into the wrong hands. Even if nothing malicious happens with the data, the fact there was a breach can lead to reputational damage and fines. And no project manager wants their project to be the one where data leaked out. So we work on making sure data privacy best practices are built into the way projects are delivered.
Mostly, data privacy regulations are baked into internal processes and policies, but it never hurts to have a reminder. Here are some things you can do to foster a culture of data privacy awareness in the team, so they automatically (hopefully) consider data privacy when they are working out work packages and activities.
Start with culture
Build a culture of data privacy. Lead from the top and make it expected that privacy is just ‘how things work around here.’
Make data privacy a part of the team’s daily routine by integrating best practices into everyday project management tasks, such as reviewing documents, storing information, and sharing data. For example, think through who has access to what data, and who gets permission to delete it.
I had an interesting discussion with some German colleagues recently who shared that the data privacy laws there are so strict that you can’t ask employees for some information, which must make some aspects of performance reviews, feedback, celebrating birthdays and employee satisfaction surveys really difficult! (If you’re based in Germany, let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or if your country has similar restrictions, tell us about them!)
Offer formal training
If your company offers mandatory data privacy and security training programs for all team members (and they probably do) make sure everyone does the modules. It’s usually e-learning and not onerous, but that also means that people have a tendency to skip to the test or assessment part without actually paying that much attention to the training. However, it’s the minimum people need to do.
This training will most likely cover topics like identifying sensitive data, safe data handling practices, and understanding legal requirements – all things you need to have top of mind for projects.
Work through examples
Use your team meetings to work through practical scenarios. Use real-world examples or case studies, for example, internal projects or projects in the media in your industry, to illustrate the importance of data privacy and the consequences of non-compliance.
Ask the risk management team if they could write some scenarios for you to discuss and add them to your team meetings a way of upskilling.
Set clear data handling guidelines
Your company might already have overarching data handling guidelines, so you can lean into those, or set specific ones for your project if it’s data heavy. Guidelines should cover data collection, storage, sharing, and disposal. When you kick off a new project, ensure that every team member understands the policies and any other applicable laws.
Stay on top of changes
One thing I’ve noticed in the 20+ years I’ve been managing projects is how often things change. Privacy law and data laws are changing all the time as technical advancements introduce different types of data and ways that it needs to be managed (AI and deep fakes being cases in point at the moment).
Don’t assume nothing has changed since you last did a project with a big data element. Talk to your legal team and get the latest.
Talk about the implications of non-compliance
Make sure people are aware that it’s not a small problem if there is a data breach or non-compliant situation. Your company could risk:
- Legal risks: Fines, sanctions, or legal action for breaching data protection regulations.
- Reputational damage: Loss of client trust, which can affect relationships and future business opportunities.
- Operational risks: Inefficient processes or security breaches that may compromise the success of a project.
And sometimes the individual might be liable as well as the organisation… so know what you are getting yourself into!
Posted on: June 09, 2025 09:00 AM |
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