People and Projects Podcast: Project Management Podcast

PPP 429 | Signs That Your PMO is Going to Fail: Insights from World PMO Influencer Bill Dow

Aug 8, 2024

In this conversation, project management expert Bill Dow shares his dynamic journey from data entry clerk to leading PMOs, emphasizing the essential soft skills and leadership qualities pivotal for success. He discusses the vital role of executive support for PMOs and the transformative influence of AI in project management—from its applications to challenges in data security. Bill also underlines the importance of perseverance and relationship-building, highlighting how continuous learning shapes effective project managers.

41:35

Creator website

Episode guests

Bill Dow

AI Summary

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Executive support is critical for PMO success, highlighting the need for alignment with business strategy to avoid obsolescence.

Effective project management extends beyond technical skills, emphasizing the importance of leadership, relationship-building, and understanding human dynamics.

Deep dives

The Journey to Project Management

Bill Dow shares his extensive career path in project management, starting from a data entry clerk to various roles such as project manager and PMO director. His early experiences in the 1990s, particularly transitioning from mainframe to client-server systems, shaped his understanding of the field. Dow emphasizes how youthful naivety often allows individuals to seize opportunities without overthinking, which can be a critical asset in early career decisions. His journey illustrates the evolving nature of project management roles and the fundamental skills acquired along the way.

Intro

2min

The Evolving Landscape of Project Management

20min

Navigating AI in Project Management

6min

The Power of Perseverance in Project Management

5min

The Journey of Continuous Learning

6min

The Evolution of Ambient AI in Healthcare and Customer Service

2min

Summary

In this episode, Andy talks with Bill Dow, the Director of Enterprise PMO at University of Washington Medicine and author of multiple project management books. Bill shares his extensive journey in project management, from starting as a data entry clerk in 1989 to leading PMOs in various organizations. The discussion covers the evolution of project management offices (PMOs), key lessons in leadership, and the significant impact of AI on project management.

Bill emphasizes the importance of executive support for PMOs' success and explores future trends like increased automation and the integration of AI into project management processes. Both Andy and Bill reflect on the critical skills needed for effective project management, beyond just technical knowledge, highlighting the art of managing people and building relationships.

Sound Bites

"Project management's often misunderstood what they actually do. We hear overhead, we hear administrative, book a meeting for us, just bug people to get things done, go get us coffee."
"I thought I'd be a project manager so I could just boss people around. Like they'll do all the work. Little did I know how complicated this job is."
"If you don't have executive support backing you, you're not going to survive. It just does not matter."
"One of the key aspects of what I'm about is tenacity. I just keep trying and trying. If it doesn't work, I'll try again and try again."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
02:03 Start Of Interview
02:27 Bill's Career Journey In Project Management
04:18 Misconceptions About Project Management
07:57 Lessons In Leading People And Projects
12:52 The Evolution Of PMOs
18:42 Signs Of A PMO At Risk
28:26 Achieving Success As A PMO Influencer
34:32 Wrap-Up
34:50 Andy's Comments After The Interview
38:56 Outtakes

Learn More

You can learn more about Bill at BillDowPMPTraining.com.

Prepare to Pass Your Project Management Certification Exam

We regularly help people just like you prepare and pass their PMP and CAPM certification exams. If you or someone you know is thinking about pursuing project management certification, contact us! We'd love to help you earn your credential. Learn more and enroll at i-leadonline.com/PMSeries.

Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast!

Talent Triangle: Power Skills

The following music was used for this episode:

Music: Tranceverse by Sascha Ende License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Music: Fashion Corporate by Frank Schroeter License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more