Summary

Taming the Project Management Wild West: From PM Cowboy to PMO Leader with Boris Thaller

How do you transform a chaotic project landscape into a streamlined engine of success? In this blog post, we'll explore the insights shared by Boris Thaller on the PM Cowboy Podcast. Boris, a seasoned project management leader, shares his journey from accidental project manager to leading global PMOs, offering invaluable lessons for project management leaders in the financial sector and beyond.

Boris Thaller's Passion Journey: From Electrical Engineering to Project Management Nirvana

Boris began his career with a technical background in electrical engineering, quickly gravitating towards the dynamic world of project teams. He wasn't content just implementing; he wanted to shape the future.

"Ich wollte auch aktiv mitgestalten und das hat sich so über die Jahre entwickelt."

Early on, Boris recognized the need for more than just technical skills. He needed to motivate teams and navigate diverse personalities. This realization sparked his journey into formal project management training.

The Autodidact Advantage: Learning by Doing

While formal training is essential, Boris emphasizes the value of learning by doing. The resilience gained from overcoming challenges early in his career proved invaluable.

"Ich glaube, du musst in deinem Karriere Weg, egal welche Karriere du einschlägst, aber ich glaube, du musst irgendwo anecken und du musst von deinen Fehlern lernen können."

The Turning Point: Recognizing the Need for Soft Skills

A major turning point came when Boris realized the limitations of his technical expertise when dealing with international teams and diverse cultures. He needed to develop his leadership, psychology, and organizational dynamic skills.

The Power of PMI: Building a Foundation of Process and Structure

Boris chose PMI for its process-oriented approach, providing a solid framework for understanding project management structures and their interdependencies. He found this particularly valuable in the highly regulated industrial sector.

From Project Leader to PMO Pioneer: Embracing the Unknown

An opportunity arose to take over a PMO, despite Boris's initial lack of understanding of what a PMO truly was. This leap of faith led him to shape and develop the PMO according to his vision.

The PMO Business Model: Delivering Value and Building Trust

Boris emphasizes the importance of demonstrating the PMO's value to stakeholders. This involves showing a clear contribution to the firm's success and ensuring the PMO's services are utilized by project leaders.

Avoiding the PMO Pitfalls: Focus and Prioritization

A common challenge for PMOs is the temptation to take on too many tasks. Boris warns against this, emphasizing the need to focus on the core needs of projects and project leaders.

"…du kannst dich auch mit so einem so einer Menge an an Aufgaben relativ schnell gleich mal ist aus. Kannst du schon ins Knie schießen, wenn du wenn du sagst, ich nehme jetzt ein Enterprise Software, weil das braucht ein großes Unternehmen, dann bringst du die nächsten zwei Jahre nichts mehr um…"

Building a PMO from the Ground Up: Boris's Key Steps

• Establish Communication: Foster collaboration and knowledge sharing among project leaders.
• Develop a Training Plan: Provide scalable and adaptable training to address varying experience levels.
• Gain Trust: Focus on building relationships and understanding the needs of project teams.

Scaling Up: From Regional to Global PMO Leadership

Boris's success led to an opportunity to lead a global PMO. This required a shift in leadership style, engaging with senior stakeholders, and taking a broader perspective on project management across the organization.

The Executive Perspective: Vision, Strategy, and Measurable Results

When engaging with executives, Boris highlights the importance of concise communication, alignment with the company's vision and strategy, and the ability to demonstrate measurable results.

PMO Maturity: A Step-by-Step Approach

Boris suggests that each stage of PMO maturity takes approximately one year to achieve, due to resource constraints and the complexities of implementation.

Quantifying Success: Dashboards and Data-Driven Insights

Boris championed the use of dashboards to automate project reporting, reducing the burden on project leaders and providing real-time visibility into project status. He recommends modern techniques like Power BI to create dashboards. Remember to also allow project leaders to explain the dashboards.

The Human Element: Empathy and Communication

Despite the advancements in technology, Boris emphasizes the continued importance of human communication and empathy in project management. AI and automation can provide data, but project leaders must interpret and explain the context.

Navigating Sponsor Relationships: Gaining and Maintaining Backing

Maintaining relevance and securing sponsor backing are crucial for PMO success. Boris emphasizes the importance of adapting to changes in leadership and effectively communicating the PMO's value proposition.

Key Takeaways for Project Management Leaders:

• Focus on building trust and relationships with project teams.
• Prioritize the core needs of projects and project leaders.
• Demonstrate the PMO's value to stakeholders through measurable results.
• Embrace a step-by-step approach to PMO maturity.
• Continuously adapt to changes in the organization and the project management landscape.

Conclusion: Embracing the PM Cowboy Spirit

Boris Thaller's journey highlights the importance of adaptability, continuous learning, and a commitment to serving the needs of project teams. By embracing the PM Cowboy spirit – a blend of practical experience, strategic thinking, and a willingness to challenge the status quo – project management leaders can tame the project management wild west and drive lasting success.