Episode 345

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Published on:

1st Feb 2026

345: 3 Questions to Align With Strategy

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

PMI Talent Triangle: Power Skills

You know that feeling when you're working incredibly hard, but executives still ask, "What is the PMO actually doing?" 


It's frustrating. You're drowning in meetings, status reports, dashboards, and escalations. So much motion, yet stakeholders still don't see your value. 


The problem isn't your effort. It's clarity. 


In this episode, I'm sharing three deceptively simple questions that change everything about how you're perceived as a PMO or transformation leader. These questions are the difference between being seen as someone who tracks work and being seen as someone who drives business outcomes. 


When you consistently ask these questions, you stop sounding like an order taker and start sounding like a strategist. You move from execution to intent. From activity to IMPACT. 


What you'll learn: 

  • How to reframe your work in business terms that resonate with executives  
  • Why "because leadership asked for it" is a red flag for misalignment 
  • The fastest way to build credibility by reporting IMPACT instead of progress  
  • How these three questions anchor directly into the IMPACT Engine System  
  • How to transform your PMO from a reporting function to a support partner 

👉 Press play to discover how three simple questions can elevate your entire approach to PMO leadership. 


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

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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