Host Jeff Plumblee interviews Ben Morabito and Jay Sturm of Irreverent Rogue, about the leadership tools of project management. The conversation goes in-depth on the necessity of alignment between corporate strategy and the PMO, reasons PMOs may fail, knowing who the PM needs to talk to and when, and the importance of soft skills in project management. Ben and Jay share their best and worst project experiences, and how those projects ended, They advise listeners on the various aspects of project management and how, in the end, if you don’t have a strong team dynamic, you will not have a successful outcome.   Listen in to hear wisdom about smoothing the path for your projects.   Key Takeaways: Ben and Jay worked together in a PMO. They had so much in common that they started Irreverent Rogue encompassing their attitude toward project management, business processes, and life, with a vision to improve PM tools. Jay describes common problems of small companies and when they need a PM. Jay says most people don’t know how to calculate the critical path. If you have a tool that can calculate it, that goes toward project health. Ben considers gut feelings in project health. It’s critical to start a project having a calculated ROI. Some people start a project to “save time.” How much time? What’s the ROI? Ben tells how unknown risks shrink as the project progresses. Ben suggests how to use the Project Manager Body of Knowledge®. Ben explains building a PMO. Start with the client’s objectives and the strategies of departments to meet them. Connect the PMO with business management to prioritize projects. Jay says a baked-in guidance component is missing from many systems. A lot of folks are not trained PMs and they need an assist. Ben advises walking untrained PMs through the system, setting them up for success. Ben tells all about his worst difficulty and best success — one huge project. Jay shares his best and worst experiences. The best was a team that delivered ahead of time, and the worst was tied to a bad actor — an executive who undermined the project! Jay also elaborates on the art of project management. You need more than the PMP® to be a competent PM. It’s science plus art!   Brought to you by Moovila — Autonomous Project Management Website: Moovila.com/thisprojectlife Email: [email protected] Resources: Moovila.com Irreverent Rogue Momentive Performance Materials Project Manager Body of Knowledge® PMP® Certification Braveheart LinkedIn: Ben Morabito LinkedIn: Jay Sturm