Program Management and the Art of Communication

You may have heard that “90% of a project manager’s work is communication.” Well that’s even more true as a program manager. But do you know why communication is so important and what is good communication for making projects successful?

If you have even a little project management experience, you know communication is no longer just the transfer of information and giving directives to project managers and project teams. Modern communication theory is based upon creating shared understanding – “the coordinated management of meaning.” And nowhere is it more important to manage and coordinate meaning – and understanding – than in programs and projects.

Earn up to 50 PDUs as you progress in this professional certificate, you will learn:

• How to communicate for understanding instead of just giving information.
• What Aristotle taught us about effective communication and why his 2,000-year old advice is still vital to persuasive communication.
• How the “Coordinated Management of Meaning” can help you develop and lead high-performing project teams and programs.
• How you can better manage the flow of program or project communication, as the information hub on your project.
• How to master both emotional intelligence and cultural intelligence when communicating with your project managers, teams and stakeholders.
• How to negotiate effectively using hidden emotional and cultural subtexts.How to effectively communicate online with a distributed workforce by being “virtually present.”
• Approaches for communicating for understanding as the foundation of being a coaching, situational leadership, and servant leadership program/project manager.
• To use storytelling as a powerful risk management tool.

This certificate program is not just about theory; I also give the working project manager aspiring to program management practical tips and tools to help them improve their most important skill: communication. You've worked hard to gain the Project Management Institute, Inc's (PMI) Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification or similar project management certification. And, you have mastered the PMBOK guide ("A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge) communication knowledge area while preparing for the PMP exam.

These workplace-tested tips and tools are ready to use today as you manage your programs and projects whether you have project management training in traditional or agile project management (PMI-ACP). Even certified scrum masters can benefit from this online course Along with gaining professional development units (PDU), upgrade your project management training with the power skill of communication.

Go beyond the communication methods you learned in the project management training. Learn how to structure your program and project communications for the most effective understanding by your stakeholders, project managers, and project teams.

Logic is not enough. Program managers need presence and to move stakeholders emotionally. Project professionals only follow people they both respect and trust. Learn to apply Aristotle’s persuasion triad to create successful communication that persuades.

Great program managers understand and heal bad communication habits and conflicts that arise within project teams and stakeholders. Learn how by leveraging emotional and cultural intelligence using the Coordinated Management of Meaning (CMM).

The most valuable resource on a project is timely information. Why? Because information changes the decisions that determine project outcomes. Learn the planning skills and techniques needed to manage information across complex programs or projects.

Storytelling is how leaders lead other leaders. Tell your project’s story to inspire your project teams, encourage your stakeholders, and gain customer commitment to project and program success.