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Sharing Ideas That Shape Transformation
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PMO Strategies Podcast
In this podcast hosted by Laura Barnard, PMO leaders and those wanting to capitalize on the best of project management to deliver the organization’s strategy will uncover the hidden secrets of the best PMOs, learn the game-changing techniques that transform any PMO into a value-driven IMPACT Engine, and explore the best ways for the PMO to become an integral part of the fabric and future of an organization. Listen in, and you can discover how to shift your focus from outputs to outcomes, fundamentally changing the game for your PMO and personal success.
The Top 6 Project Management Mistakes — and What to Do Instead
Projects seldom go as planned, leaving project managers with any number of small fires to put out. Here are the most common issues projects encounter and how to get things back on track.
What Baseball Teaches Us About Project Management
In this new PMO Hub conversation, Aina Alive sits down with Laura Barnard, her son Grayson, and editor Dawn Mahan to uncover how creativity, courage, and collaboration shape the real “Projectland” — a world where every challenge feels cinematic.
For Project Strategies to Soar, Don’t Skip Those in the Middle
Middle managers existing in isolation create too much work for the executive team, leading projects to fall flat. Success, after all, is everyone’s business.
The Philosophy of the IMPACT Engine – What It Means for PMO Professionals
At PMO Learning, we’re always thinking about how PMO professionals can go beyond just ticking boxes and really make a difference. One of the ideas that’s resonated recently is The IMPACT Engine by Laura Barnard. It’s not another dry “best practice” book – it blends philosophy with a roadmap for how PMOs can deliver value in ways that actually stick.
Why Your Business Transformation Is Stuck and How to Make It Fly
You’ve got big goals to transform the business, disrupt the market, and deliver better, faster, and smarter. But after all that effort, are you actually seeing results?
The False Narrative of Shifting From Project to Product — and Why You Need Both
Industry buzz suggests organizations simply shift from outdated, rigid, and ineffective project management practices to product-led product management, as if this remedies all strategy execution challenges. But that oversimplified thinking is exactly what keeps organizations stuck.
4 Steps to Debunk the Change Resistance Myth
Change isn’t inevitable — it’s how you adjust perceptions to successfully lead your company into the future. Whether it’s automating process, reorganizing teams, or adapting to shifting customer needs, executives know it’s imperative that everyone embraces change to grow. But if the changes you need your teams to drive feel harder to implement than they should, or your leaders say everyone’s change resistant, you’re not alone. But there’s a truth you need to hear.
5 Strategies to Stop Wasting Time with Training
Companies are wasting a staggering amount of time and money on training. In 2023, US companies spent $101.8 billion on training (Training), yet only 12 percent of learners apply these skills at work, leading to wasted resources (Edstellar).
Transform Your PMO Into a Strategic Powerhouse
There’s no shortage of opinions about PMOs. Some rave about their effectiveness while others question if they’re a waste of time. The truth is, you can’t know if a PMO can deliver the business outcomes you need until you understand what it’s designed to do — and the value it should bring to your organization.
What Is an EPMO? Your Organization’s Strategy Navigator
If your organization struggles to turn strategy into results, you’re not alone. C-suite leaders are often frustrated by projects that don’t deliver business outcomes, which can derail growth, drain budgets, and stifle competitive advantage. But a well-structured enterprise project management office (EPMO) can solve these problems — but only if it’s designed to drive business value, not just manage projects.
Become a ROCKSTAR Project Manager with These Proven Strategies!
In this episode, I talk with Laura Barnard, PMP, CAL, Prosci, IES, founder and chief IMPACT Driver of PMO Strategies, about key principles to help project managers drive impactful, value-focused results. We share practical strategies to maximize outcomes and actionable tips to elevate your project management skills.
10 Steps to Turn a Failed Project Into an Opportunity
When a project goes off the rails, it’s tempting to focus on the urgent: fix the immediate issues to get things back on track. But unless you uncover the root cause and address it, you’re simply setting the stage for future failures.
Five Surprising Mistakes Most CEOs Are Making (And How to Fix Them)
As a CEO, you’re under pressure to deliver results, but common mistakes may be quietly sabotaging your strategy. Here are the traps to avoid and how to overcome them to drive success and accelerate your organization’s growth.
The High End IMPACT Leader – Laura Barnard
How do you lead meaningful change without formal authority? In this engaging discussion, Laura Barnard, an award-winning project management expert and CEO of PMO Strategies, shares her journey from tech trailblazer to empowering leaders worldwide. Learn how to influence effectively, foster inclusive leadership, and balance technology and human connection.
Building Your IMPACT Engine: The Blueprint for High-Performance Teams
Transform your project teams into high-performance delivery engines! In this episode, we talk with Laura Barnard, author of The IMPACT Engine, who shares her powerful framework for transforming project teams into top-performing teams. Laura, a seasoned PMO expert, shares insights on how the right mindset can make or break a project, stressing that people don’t resist change itself—they resist having change imposed on them. She explains the importance of leading at a pace that matches the team’s readiness and emphasizes “doing change with people, not to people.”
Why Projects Fail and How to Fix Them: A Masterclass with Laura Barnard
In this episode, we’re joined by Laura Barnard, also known as “The PMO Lady” and the 2021 World’s Top PMO Influencer. Laura is the founder of PMO Strategies and creator of the IMPACT Engine, a revolutionary approach to managing projects and accelerating strategy delivery.
Busy vs. Productive: How Small Business Leaders Can Focus on What Matters
Running a small business can feel like you’re always running out of time. You’re juggling everything—client meetings, employee questions, emails, project deadlines. You feel like you’re always busy, but progress doesn’t seem to come as easily as it should. The problem? Busy is not a badge of honor. It’s a sign of chaos, not success.
5 Reasons Why Agile Transformation Fails
Organizations around the world jumped on the Agile transformation bandwagon, hoping this new delivery approach would solve their project problems and bring strategies to life. But for many, the transformation didn’t deliver.
Use Storytelling to Inspire Healthy Competition and Growth
The corporate world loves buzzwords and slide decks. Words like “synergy” and “alignment” fly around in meetings as if they have some magical power to motivate people. But if you want to inspire people to drive real change, there’s a secret weapon that works every time: storytelling. Yes, good old-fashioned storytelling — the kind that gets people talking, connects teams and, believe it or not, fosters a little healthy competition.