PMI Global Insights

By: Priya Patra

Curiosity killed the Cat – We have heard of it while you were growing up, possibly as a cautionary tale, warning you of the dangers of unnecessary investigation or experimentation.

The cat in the idiom presumably became overly curious, so much so that he put himself into a dangerous situation which led to his death.

But is this true even now when the world is disrupted least to say?

A recent Harvard Business Review had an article by Frances Gino from the Harvard Business School that said, “When we’re curious, we view tough situations more creatively.”

We challenge “status quo” - Curiosity helps us to think out of the box.

In the words of Albert Einstein, “The important thing is not to stop questioning … Never lose a holy curiosity.

As children, we always asked questions but maybe not so much as adults.

Increasingly we are expected to follow often conflicting social norms within different contexts. 

Unrestrained curiosity becomes an annoying time waster, however, if targeted it can become the project managers' superpower. Best of all we all have it, we just have to harness it. Project managers can harness curiosity as a power skill to enable better project outcomes and an innovative future fit team – thrive in this disrupted world.

So, is curiosity a power skill?

How can we encourage ourselves and our teams to be more curious?

Can curiosity uncover challenges, and increase our capacity for innovation and growth?

Join me at the PMI Global Summit 2023 on 28 October at 10:15 ET where I will narrate tips and techniques from my day-to-day as a project manager.

1. How curiosity encourages continual growth and learning, which drives positive personal, team, and organizational outcomes by a motivated and future-fit 
2. How asking the right questions to ourselves as leaders can help to polish our power skill – Curiosity
3. How curiosity can make our teams
   1. Ideators
   2. Problem solvers
   3. Energizers - who can barge through any obstacles without burning out, infusing the team with energy and enthusiasm to thrive
   4. Enables continuous learning

Most importantly we will also deliberate if curiosity killed the cat.

I am curious to know your thoughts on this topic. Do you think curiosity is a power skill? How can we encourage ourselves and our teams to be more curious?

By: Seth Greenwald

Hey PM, the game is happening now. Are you in?

You may be asking yourself, "what’s at stake in the game?" Well, it’s whatever you’re playing for. Are you pitching to a prospective client? Are you interviewing for a new position? Are you giving a project briefing to senior management? Are you negotiating with a vendor? You have one shot to do your best. That’s why you need to be on your PM A-Game. And the prerequisite to playing at your peak is to ensure your head is in the game. In other words, you won’t get A-Game results with a B-Game mindset. The game is happening now. What can you do to ensure you’re in?

There are many ways to practice maintaining your focus in the ever-changing present moment. One of most effective ways I’ve found is through tapping into the transformational mind state called Flow. In sports parlance, it’s called "being in the zone". This is the realm of pure doing. No thinking, no hesitation, no self-consciousness. In this almost magical state of consciousness, you have no choice but to perform at your optimal level because you’ve banished doubt, uncertainty and fear. You may be thinking that all sounds too good to be true. And you’d be right IF you never experience Flow.

PMs, I have good news...you don't need to be an athlete to access the power of Flow. In fact, you can practice tapping into Flow anytime, anywhere. You can even try while communicating with your team, presenting to your customers or reporting to your vertical chain. Unfortunately, much of what we are attempting to communicate falls on deaf ears because our audience's attention is not in the game. What can a lone PM do? Well, we can supercharge our presentation skills by crafting a better project narrative through the power of storytelling. Let's help our audience listen to us by using Flow to present stories which are memorable, and subsequently we become storytellers who are unforgettable. Let's get stickier!

Here are five strategies you can implement right away to tell stickier project-based stories:

1. Be crystal clear about your message before you speak. If you don't know the point of your project's story, you'll start to meander, and your audience will get confused. Game over. 
2. Make sure you have one message and one message only. More than one primary idea will weaken your presentation and dilute your story. 
3. Don't use abstract vague language. Sprinkle in plenty of concrete details. Energize your audience's imagination by including specifics into your story. 
4. Flesh out your characters so they become actual people with emotions. Our brains are hardwired to remember stories that make us feel the feels. 
5. Starting your project story with a twist can perk up your audience's attention. Keep them on the edge of their seats by providing novel or unexpected turns throughout your story. 

Incorporating stories into your presentations will supercharge your communication and leadership skills and, in the process, help take your career to the next level.

I hope to see you at PMI Global Summit 2023 on October 27 at 1:00 PM ET to experience a seriously fun storytelling workshop! 

PMs, feel free to reach out to me with pre-conference questions - Seth Greenwald

By: Laura Lazzerini

Why I proposed this topic?
I struggled in the past on how to tailor my leadership, according to the specific person, the group of people and to the organizational environment, in various and diverse projects. The more the set-up of the project was hybrid, the more the need of tailoring the leadership became prominent and necessary.

What does hybrid project really mean?
A hybrid project is a project that has been set by using different approaches and methodologies. The most common hybrid projects use a waterfall approach (mainly as the overall framework of the project) and have sub-streams of the project that run in agile. This mix of approaches leads to a higher demand for tailoring from the project manager. In theory a hybrid project, even though this is not always recognized in the project management literature, could also be a combination of two agile ways of working, such as for instance Scrum and Kanban. The same could be stated also for a combination of two waterfall methodologies, such as PMI and Prince2.

Are you working on a hybrid project?
If yes, you are running one of the 52% of projects that have been classified worldwide from PMI as hybrid. A recent PMI whitepaper “Agile, Traditional, and Hybrid Approaches to Project Success: Is Hybrid a Poor second Choice?” highlights that over 50% of projects in a conducted survey were governed using hybrid approach. The agile approach represented 15% and the traditional 33%.

How can the leadership be adapted and tailored in a hybrid project?
The main techniques are aimed to have a focus on people and a better understanding of your team members, stakeholders and organizational environment. I will share my experience in the PMI Global Summit 2023 on 27th October at 9:00 AM ET in Atlanta.

By: Olivia Montgomery
Assoc. Principal Analyst, Capterra

From juggling tight deadlines to managing diverse teams, the challenges for project managers are endless. Yet, there's one skill that has consistently stood out as a game-changer: emotional intelligence (or emotional quotient - EQ). I'm excited to share insights from my latest research and actionable recommendations with you at the upcoming PMI Global Summit 2023 in my session, "Leveraging EQ as a Superpower in Decision-Making & Growing Your Influence."

Capterra’s recent study finds that 77% of the most successful project managers say EQ is very important, and they’re using the skill more often over the past two years. This 45-minute lightning session will focus on specific steps you can take to increase your EQ and how to use high-EQ techniques to help stakeholders make better decisions and grow your influence as a change maker.

The power of emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence (EQ) is the ability to perceive, use, understand, and manage your own emotions as well as others'. The most successful project managers (PMs) know how to foster “productive” emotions, setting up their teams to make informed decisions and build strong relationships.

Capterra’s research has consistently shown that PMs using high-EQ techniques create a collaborative environment where stakeholders feel comfortable openly discussing tough problems and finding the best solutions. In fact, 92% of PMs think a high level of EQ within a project team positively impacts the quality of strategic decision-making.

Blending research findings with actionable insights

It's not enough to simply know the importance of EQ—you need to know how to apply it in your day-to-day project management practices. That's where my conference session comes in. I’ll be sharing specific steps that you can immediately start leveraging EQ to increase your effectiveness at leading key decision-making processes. Here’s a quick teaser of what attendees will learn:

• Self-awareness: Identify and understand your own emotions and how they impact your decisions. Use techniques like journaling or mindfulness to gain better self-awareness.
• Communication: Effective communication is at the heart of EQ. I'll provide practical communication strategies that can diffuse conflicts and foster collaboration.
• Decision-making: Discover how to help stakeholders make decisions that not only consider facts and data but also consider the emotions of those involved.
• Influence: Grow your influence and improve your reputation as a reliable, honest, and effective leader who senior leadership turns to for help delivering business value.

Emotional intelligence is the superpower that every PM should possess. It's not just a buzzword; it's a tangible skill that can elevate your career. Join me October 28th at 10:15 a.m. EST for my session, "Leveraging EQ as a Superpower in Decision-Making & Growing Your Influence," where I'll dive deeper into my research findings and provide you with more actionable takeaways that can transform your project management approach.

Join me at the PMI’s Global Summit 2023.

Together, we'll unlock the potential of EQ in project management and set you on a path to greater success. I look forward to seeing you there!

By: Somnath Ghosh

In today's dynamic landscape, where customer expectations evolve alongside rapid technological advancements, traditional methods like annual prioritization and funding no longer suffice. Alarming statistics from Gartner reveal that a staggering 75% of all US IT projects are deemed failures by their initiators, underscoring the disconnection between delivered solutions and intended outcomes, even after diligently adhering to conventional portfolio management methodologies.

To thrive in the digital age and fiercely competitive environment, organizations require an approach that seamlessly synchronizes strategy with execution on an ongoing basis.  Lean Portfolio Management (LPM) transcends conventional portfolio management by melding lean and agile principles.  LPM shines a spotlight on optimizing value delivery, fostering continuous improvement, championing innovation, and aligning strategy with execution.

Empowering Decision Makers and Trailblazers

LPM empowers leaders by offering them vital insight into ongoing efforts. This empowerment stems from assessing progress through incremental achievements and real-time customer input, steering endeavors in the right direction. This iterative process of adjustment or persistence, rooted in tangible data, helps leaders make informed decisions and optimize their investments for maximal returns.

Decentralized Leadership and Bidirectional Objective Setting

In the realm of LPM, decisions are a collective effort, determined by those closest to the frontline. The decentralization of administration cultivates an environment of autonomy and agility, where teams can make well-informed choices. This decentralized approach dovetails with bidirectional objective setting, ensuring that strategic aspirations seamlessly align with execution realities. The result? Flexibility for real-time adjustments and refinements as needed.

Join Me on Thursday, October 26, 2023, at the PMI Global Summit 2023 to embark on a journey to explore how Lean Portfolio Management has galvanized business accomplishments through the synchronization of strategy and execution.

During this session, we will delve into the world of data-driven decision-making, structured intake mechanisms, incremental funding, and the establishment of consistent feedback loops to bolster portfolio planning. Participants will grasp the art of harnessing data to enable lean portfolio management, constructing a protective framework for their portfolios, quantifying impactful metrics, and cultivating a continuous flow of value to the customer, all under the canopy of a reimagined portfolio management paradigm.

As the business sphere evolves at an unprecedented pace, Lean Portfolio Management will inevitably ascend to a core approach. Don't miss this chance to stay ahead of the curve and learn about incessantly recalibrating portfolio trajectory, ensuring alignment despite the ceaseless dynamics of the market. See you there!