Talent Management 2017: Developing Talent is the PM’s Top Priority

Project Management professionals who play a leading role in driving critical organizational initiatives often don’t see themselves as responsible for the care and feeding of team members when it comes to career development. The nature of projects brings together professionals from different disciplines with the aim of working alongside each other to deliver an organizational project or program. Given the temporary nature of the assignment, coupled with the diversity of functional expertise, project and program managers may reach a conclusion that they are not in a good position to offer valuable and relevant advice, guidance, and instruction leading to talent development. This is especially true on strategic transformation initiatives that require a significant level of effort and focus on driving organizational change and execution. However, as prime change agents within the organization, Project Management professionals are in a great position to not only observe the day to day interactions of team members but can also play an important role in coaching and improving the team’s performance.

The fact that a project manager or program manager is not traditionally a people manager does not mean that their contribution to talent management is less relevant to that of a functional manager. This presentation will explore ways that Project Management professionals can add value in supporting team member career development and contribute to enhancing the organizational aims of talent development.