Episode 323

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Published on:

31st Aug 2025

323: Communicate With Courage with Dori Gilbert

Welcome to the PMO Strategies Podcast + Blog, where PMO leaders become IMPACT Drivers!

PMI Talent Triangle: Power Skills

Everyone thinks strategy fails because of poor execution. 

 

But most of the time? It’s poor communication. 

 

In this episode, I’m joined by Dori Gilbert—an executive coach, transformation strategist, and certified PMO leader who’s helped delivery teams and executives close the gap between strategy and execution by developing what she calls “communication agility.” It’s a framework built on three essential traits: courage, context, and conflict fluency. 

 

We get into why executives hesitate to delegate, why middle managers struggle to advocate, and why project leaders often avoid the very conversations that could change everything. This episode gives you practical tools to build trust, shift perception, and communicate with strategic presence—even when the stakes are high. 

 

This episode will give you a clear path to elevating your visibility, earning stakeholder buy-in, and leading through change with confidence and clarity. 

 

What You'll Learn:  

  • Why leaders don’t trust handoffs (and how to fix it) 
  • The 3Cs of Communication Agility 
  • How to develop strategic presence (without faking confidence) 
  • What “empathetic action” looks like in real conversations 
  • How to lead up, out, and across with clarity and influence 


👉 Press play to learn how to build real traction with your words, not just your workload. 

 

Connect with Dori: 

Follow her on LinkedIn 

Check out her website 

Visit KiteAgility.com 

Download Your Internal Conflict Messaging System Guide 


P.S. If you’re ready to lead with clarity instead of noise, The IMPACT Accelerator Mastermind gives you the tools, coaching, and support to communicate with confidence and influence at the highest level. Click here to learn more 🚀 


P.P.S. On September 10, we’re celebrating the one-year anniversary of The IMPACT Engine! Whether you already own the book or have been waiting to grab a copy, now’s your chance. Not on the newsletter yet? Join today so you don’t miss the exclusive September 9 sneak peek at special offers and giveaways—my way of saying thanks for an incredibly IMPACTful year! 


Thanks for taking the time to check out the podcast!

I welcome your feedback and insights! 

I’d love to know what you think and if you love it, please leave a rating and review in your favorite podcast player. Please leave a comment below to share your thoughts. See you online!

Warmly,

Laura Barnard

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About the Podcast

PMO Strategies
with Laura Barnard
In this podcast, PMO leaders and those wanting to capitalize on the best of project management to deliver the organization’s strategy will uncover the hidden secrets of the best PMOs, learn the game-changing techniques that transform any PMO into a value-driven IMPACT Engine, and explore the best ways for the PMO to become an integral part of the fabric and future of an organization. After spending two and a half decades helping organizations deliver change, with 15 of those years in the shoes of PMO leader inside organizations, Laura strongly believes that there is more to making an IMPACT than templates, tools, and process. She’ll show you how to make the shifts necessary to become a business-focused PMO that will become an invaluable organizational asset. With her guests and insights, we explore the sticky situations and tough challenges PMO leaders face, from sorting through all of the “noise” about what the PMO “should” do to finding the best ways for your PMO to make an IMPACT. Listen in, and you can discover how to shift your focus from outputs to outcomes, fundamentally changing the game for your PMO and personal success.

About your host

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Laura Barnard