Working with Your Project Sponsor: 5 Tips

TL;DR

Understand your project sponsor's perspective, make their life easier, address the governance deficit, handle difficult sponsors, and manage meddlesome sponsors to work effectively with your project sponsor.

Transcript

one of perhaps the most important relationship in any project is the relationship between you the project manager and your project sponsor so in this video i want to give you five tips for how to work effectively with your project sponsor tip one is to understand the frame within which your project sponsor is working in fact your project sponsor co... Read More

Key Insights

• 😤 Project sponsors can have different frames of reference, such as self-interest, team-oriented, organization-focused, or stakeholder-oriented.
• 🥡 Making life easier for your sponsor involves taking responsibility for mistakes, taking initiative, and accepting and implementing feedback.
• 📽️ The governance deficit should be addressed to ensure the sponsor's engagement aligns with the project's risk and resource demands.
• 🍵 Handling difficult sponsors involves demonstrating competence, building relationships, understanding their needs, and providing recognition and support.

Questions & Answers

Q: What are the four frames within which a project sponsor might be working?

The frames include the sponsor's interests and benefits, the interests and benefits of the team, the impact on the organization, and the impact on stakeholders outside the organization.

Q: How can I make life easier for my project sponsor?

You can make their life easier by taking responsibility for mistakes, taking initiative, and accepting and implementing feedback they provide.

Q: What is the governance deficit, and why is it important?

The governance deficit refers to the disparity between the project's risk and resource demands and the sponsor's attention. It is important to address to ensure the sponsor's engagement aligns with the project's needs.

Q: How can I handle a difficult project sponsor?

To handle a difficult sponsor, demonstrate confidence and competence, build a relationship over time, understand and acknowledge their needs, and provide recognition and support.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Understanding the frame within which your project sponsor is working is crucial, as they may prioritize their own interests, the team, the organization, or other stakeholders.

• Making life easy for your sponsor involves taking responsibility for mistakes, taking initiative, and accepting and implementing feedback.

• The governance deficit, where sponsors dedicate less time to the project than its risk and resource demands, should be addressed to ensure their engagement.