Episode 343

full
Published on:

18th Jan 2026

343: Why a PMO Charter is a Bad Idea

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

PMI Talent Triangle: Business Acumen

Have you ever spent weeks crafting the "perfect" PMO charter, got executive sign-off, and then watched it collect dust while stakeholders still questioned your value? 


Here's what nobody tells you: You don't need a charter. Not first. Not yet. And maybe not at all. 


In this episode, I'm calling out the biggest myth in PMO establishment—that you need a formal charter to be legitimate. 


Spoiler alert: Projects need charters. But if you're building a strategic function? You need something completely different. 


Here's what you'll discover: 

  • Why charters are strategy in a vacuum (and how that backfires) 
  • The six stages of the IMPACT Engine System™ that successful PMOs follow 
  • How to build trust and credibility BEFORE you define your structure 
  • Why you need a business plan, not a charter 
  • The exact process for co-creating services that stakeholders actually want 

Bottom line: Does the sales department have a charter? Does IT? Does Finance? No. They have business plans. Because they're built to deliver ongoing value, not temporary results. 


Your PMO is no different. 


Ready to stop defending promises you made too early and start building a PMO the business actually wants? 


Click play to listen now and learn why the traditional charter approach sets you up for failure (it's basically strategy in a vacuum), and what successful PMOs do instead. 


P.S. If you're ready to become the strategy navigator your business needs, the IMPACT Engine Practitioner Certification gives you the coaching, tools, and step-by-step framework to make it happen. This live online workshop runs for four half-day sessions: February 11-12 and 18-19, 2026. Learn more and register now! 

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

GET NOTIFIED ABOUT NEW EPISODES | TELL US WHAT YOU WANT TO LEARN | PDU REPORTING INSTRUCTIONS

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for PMO Strategies

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

Profile picture for Laura Barnard

Laura Barnard