Embracing the future! Party episode with Laura Barnard, Andy Kaufman and Jennifer Bridges
Every region in the world has had a different experience of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In many ways, the world is yet to truly emerge from the pandemic even though organisations in many parts of the world are already shifting and adjusting to a post-COVID future.
In this special 200th podcast, Elise Stevens speaks with colleagues and mentors Laura Barnard, Andy Kaufman and Jennifer Bridges about how we can all prepare for an uncertain future.
Points raised in this podcast:
- Project managers already have valuable skillsets that can lead them through uncertainty and ambiguity.
- Team leaders must learn how to tell a compelling story to give team members, stakeholders, and executives confidence.
- Projects have a target or purpose that has been pre-decided. As businesses move into the future, they must consider what they want that purpose to be.
- Project managers can prepare for their future by investing in themselves and taking more control of their own careers, particularly their education and training.
- Women’s careers have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic and they may feel left behind and ill-prepared for their future.
- When change is rushed or implemented frenetically, people can be left behind. Organisations should ensure they’re bringing everyone along with changes that are made post-COVID.
- Organisations are looking for change leaders; people who have ideas and motivation.
- Career success in the future will mean being proactive. It is easy to become complacent, but this will lead to missed opportunities in the future.
- Employees should consider their value to the organisation in terms of what they deliver to the business’ bottom line, rather than counting projects or chasing titles.
- Team leaders should consider if it’s time for them to step up or step back. Those who aren’t ready to lead in this time of uncertainty should tell their organisations they’re not ready.
- This pandemic can allow us all to reset. If we let go of things that aren’t working or people who aren’t serving us we can move forward and be better for it.
About Laura:
Laura Barnard is a keynote speaker, trainer and consultant, the Founder and CEO of PMO Strategies and the Founder and President of the non-profit Project Management for Change.
Laura has been instrumental in bringing PMOs and project management to the strategy table for almost two and a half decades. She knows just how hard it can be to drive effective and sustainable change in organisations, having spent 15 years in the role of PMO leader and now she helps organisations accelerate business growth, evolution and sustainability leveraging the power of project management and the PMO.
She has developed a unique and powerful system for growing organisational project management competency with a deliberate focus on driving high-IMPACT outcomes on every project. Considered a thought leader in the project management community, Laura shares her insights and stories on the PMO Strategies Podcast, where she is shaking up the way the industry thinks about our role in driving strategy realisation.
You can connect with Laura on LinkedIn.
About Andy:
Andy Kaufman is a recognised expert on leadership and project management, helping organisations around the world improve their ability to lead and deliver. Andy works with leaders at the United Nations and other global clients to improve their ability to deliver on their initiatives.
Before becoming an internationally sought-after speaker, Andy started as a software developer and was promoted into management for all the wrong reasons! He is the author of three books and host of the acclaimed People and Projects Podcast, which provides free PDUs through interviews and insights for his global listeners.
You can connect with Andy on LinkedIn.
About Jennifer:
Jennifer Bridges is the founder of PDUs2Go.com, an Atlanta-based global consulting, training and technology solutions firm with Portable & Affordable™ courses for Project Managers on the Go™ to earn PMI PDUs towards PMP Certification. She is the director of projectmanager.com and the CEO of consulting and training firm Optimo, Inc.
Jennifer has extensive experience with complex project and process optimisation, talent identification, development and retention, as well as leadership development of project and program managers within the information technology industry
She is a keynote speaker and an active member of professional organisations including the Project Management Institute (PMI), Women In Technology (WIT), and the National Speakers Association (NSA).
You can connect with Jennifer on LinkedIn.