Navigating the Challenges of PMO Leadership

Leading a Project Management Office (PMO) can sometimes feel like navigating a tricky maze of challenges. We recently ran a poll on LinkedIn to understand what PMO leaders in businesses are currently grappling with, and this is what we found.

We asked PMO leaders to choose which of the following three is their top challenge, and here’s what they said:

Alignment with strategic goals (50%): this means making sure that the projects you’re working on are in sync with your organisation’s big-picture goals. It’s a bit like ensuring that every puzzle piece fits perfectly.

Change management (22%): managing change within a company can feel like herding cats! PMO leaders often face resistance when trying to steer teams through transformation; like guiding a ship through turbulent waters.

Resource management (28%): balancing workloads, skills and project requirements while making the most of your resources is like juggling a bunch of spinning plates. It’s a skill that requires finesse.

The clear winner here was the challenge of aligning strategic goals. It’s not just about making sure your projects match your company’s big plans; it’s about making sure every project and task contributes to the organisation’s vision.

So how do you tackle this challenge? Here are some tips from our seasoned experience:

Establish clear communication

• Internal communication: keep the comms channels open in your organisation. Make sure everyone understands the company’s goals and how their work fits into the bigger picture.
• External communication: work closely with stakeholders and clients. Clearly explain your project objectives and how they align with their needs and goals.

Define measurable objectives

• Set key performance indicators (KPIs) that directly tie to your strategic goals. These metrics give you a tangible way to measure progress and success.
• Keep checking in and adjusting your project as needed.

Embrace agile project management

• Agile methods allow you to be flexible and adapt to changes and challenges. They let your teams respond quickly to shifts in priorities.
• Regular check-ins, constant feedback loops and continuous improvements make sure your projects stay on track with your evolving goals.

Empower your team

• Give your project managers the authority to make decisions. This helps them align their teams with strategic goals effectively.
• Inspire and motivate your teams by emphasising how their roles contribute to the organisation’s mission.

Leverage technology 

• Use project management software and tools for real-time tracking, data analysis, and reporting. They offer valuable insights into project alignment and performance.
• Automation can take care of routine tasks, allowing your team to focus on the strategic side of project management.

Navigating the challenge of aligning projects with strategic goals is undoubtedly complex, but it’s essential for PMO success. At smart/tasking, we’ve faced and overcome these challenges countless times, and we share our experiences with our clients every day. That’s why we offer PMO as-a-service – a tailored and flexible managed service with subject matter experts and our purpose-built PMO toolkit, TaskGenie.

Remember, strategic alignment isn’t a one-time task; it’s an ongoing process that demands vigilance, adaptability and a deep understanding of your organisation’s vision. By embracing these strategies, PMO leaders can steer their projects in the right direction, driving transformative change and making a lasting impact within their organisations. And that’s precisely what we aim to do with smart/tasking. You can read a case study about the work we’ve done here, and find out how we can help you with your change management and transformation – by emailing: optimise@smarttasking.com or calling: +44 (0) 203 918 5680

By Gary Gamp | CXO at Smart/tasking