FreezePoints eMagazine

On Tuesday, September 10th, 2024, PMI Orange County held its September Dinner Meeting at the Back Bay Conference Center in Irvine, CA. The keynote speaker for the evening was Jason Pardes, a seasoned project management professional with over 10 years of experience. Jason’s presentation, titled “The Honest PM: How a Culture of Trust Creates Positive Business Outcomes,” centered on the importance of fostering honest communication in the workplace and the role project managers play in promoting this culture.

 

The key objectives of the presentation were to:

• Reinforce the value of honest communication in project management.
• Understand how project management can support a culture of transparency.
• Explore tactics for delivering difficult news to stakeholders.
• Share principles to guide communication strategies in various situations.

 

Jason began by emphasizing the role of honest communication in creating a foundation for trust and informed decision-making. He explained how honest communication directly impacts a company’s bottom line, reducing inefficiencies such as ambiguous messaging, unproductive meetings, and unnecessary churn. Jason noted that adding more honest communication leads to better outcomes, happier teams, and a healthier organizational culture.

 

One of the standout sections of the presentation was Jason’s “Honest PM Values,” which are essential in effective communication in project management. According to Jason, communications should be:

• Factual: Always grounded in reality.
• Transparent: Sharing information openly, even if it's difficult.
• Proactive: Addressing issues before they become problems.
• Concise: Keeping messages clear and to the point.

 

Jason stressed that project managers often serve as the “front line” of communication in businesses, acting as conduits between technical teams and business stakeholders. To support this, he introduced the “Honest PM Communications Toolkit,” which includes:

• Leveraging well-defined processes and seeking continuous improvement.
• Utilizing data-centric reporting to provide objective updates.
• Implementing an Accountability Matrix to clearly define roles and responsibilities.

 

Attendees were given an opportunity to participate in group discussions about real-life scenarios. Each situation became a learning opportunity as participants explored how applying Jason's values could improve communication.

 

Another highlight of the evening was Jason’s guidance on Strategies for Communicating Difficult News. He shared the following key points:

• Be direct: Don’t bury the lead. Format messages to ensure clarity.
• Consider your audience: Adjust your message depending on whether you're speaking to technical or business stakeholders, and be mindful of their understanding of the context.
• Anticipate uncertainties: Address areas of potential confusion proactively to avoid misunderstandings.
• Be action-focused: Clearly articulate expectations, identify mitigation strategies, and offer recommendations when appropriate.

 

After exploring these strategies, attendees revisited the earlier scenarios, applying what they had learned to enhance their responses. The evening wrapped up with a lively discussion, allowing participants to engage further with the concepts shared.

 

Overall, Jason’s presentation left a strong impression on the audience. His practical approach to honest communication in project management provided actionable insights that attendees could implement in their own work, reinforcing the value of transparency, clarity, and proactive engagement in delivering successful projects.