Episode 535: How to Communicate Project Value to Leadership

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Episode Summary

Project managers often excel at delivering on scope, schedule, and budget, but struggle when asked to prove the value of their work to senior leadership. Barbara Kephart brings her extensive experience in project, program, and portfolio management to address this common challenge. She outlines a clear approach to bridging the gap between technical project reporting and leadership’s focus on business outcomes. Drawing from her career in both public and private sectors, Barbara explains how understanding the language of leadership and linking project metrics to strategic objectives can transform how executives perceive your contributions.

During the conversation, Barbara emphasizes the importance of knowing your audience and aligning your message to their priorities. She discusses the different value dimensions executives care about, from financial returns to customer satisfaction, and shares examples of how project managers can frame updates in ways that resonate. She also highlights the risks of overloading leaders with detail and the need to focus on what directly influences business decisions. Her guidance includes practical tips on how to select metrics that matter, tie them to organizational goals, and present them in a concise and compelling format.

Listeners will appreciate the practical nature of Barbara’s advice, as she shares scenarios where reframing project information led to stronger executive engagement and support. Whether you are preparing for a quarterly review, a portfolio prioritization meeting, or an impromptu hallway conversation with a sponsor, her insights provide a repeatable process for keeping leadership informed and invested in your work.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• How to align project metrics with leadership’s strategic priorities.
• Techniques for framing updates in business terms rather than technical detail.
• Common mistakes project managers make when reporting to executives.
• How to tailor communication for different leadership audiences.
• Examples of project value framing that secured leadership buy-in.

Quotes from This Episode

• "If you want leadership’s attention, you have to speak their language." - Barbara Kephart
• "Metrics are only meaningful when they connect directly to business goals." - Barbara Kephart
• "Details matter, but relevance matters more when you are in the boardroom." - Barbara Kephart

Connect with Barbara Kephart

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbarakephart/

Time-Stamped Show Notes

• [00:00] - Episode introduction and the importance of proving project value to leadership.
• [03:15] - Barbara explains the gap between project reporting and leadership’s focus.
• [08:40] - Identifying leadership priorities and aligning project metrics accordingly.
• [14:05] - Avoiding information overload and focusing on decision-driving details.
• [18:50] - Examples of reframing project information for executive audiences.
• [24:10] - Selecting metrics that clearly tie to business objectives.
• [28:45] - Communication techniques for different leadership styles and roles.
• [33:20] - Building confidence in communicating value through preparation and practice.
• [37:15] - Closing thoughts and actionable takeaways for project managers.

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