Episode 341

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Published on:

4th Jan 2026

341: Start Your Year Stronger

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

PMI Talent Triangle: Power Skills

Hello January! New year, new PMO goals!  

By now, I’m guessing you’re already dealing with a full inbox and back-to-back meetings. And just like that...the excitement you had about improving your PMO is starting to fade as the noise takes over again.  


This is the point where most PMO leaders start losing the year. Not in March. Not in Q2. Right here, when urgency returns faster than intention does. 


In this episode, I’m not talking about resolutions. I’m talking about structure. The kind that changes what you say yes to, what you say no to, and how you set focus before the calendar fills up. 


You’ll learn: 

✅ Why resolutions fail leaders and what strategic leaders do instead. 

✅ How to define one leadership decision that changes how you show up. 

✅ How to choose a 30-day outcome that creates visible momentum. 

✅ How to align with executives and stakeholders before you deliver. 

✅ A practical weekly playbook to protect focus and show progress fast. 

👉 Press play to avoid starting January on autopilot. And don’t forget to download the Start Stronger worksheet so you can lock your leadership decision, set your January outcome, and build a 30-day plan that holds once the pressure ramps up. 


P.S. If you missed the first session, this is your opportunity to catch it live. I’m hosting another FREE live workshop, Building a Case for a Strategy-Driven PMO, on January 15 from 11:00–12:30 pm Eastern. We’ll focus on how to diagnose what’s getting in the way, align stakeholders, and build delivery plans that create visible results. This is your chance to work through it with me in real time. 👉 Learn more and register today! 

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