📧 Why your leadership skills matter more than AI (PMO transformation insights)

Hi there.

Ed here.

I recently had the opportunity to share insights on the Author Nation podcast about AI's impact on creative industries.

While we focused on publishing, I realized the parallels with project management are striking.

Today, I'm breaking down the key takeaways specifically for PMO leaders looking to navigate the AI landscape.

The Project Manager's AI Reality Check

Let me share something that happens all the time – I'll be on a plane, mention I work in AI, and suddenly I'm fielding questions for the entire flight!

The biggest misconception I encounter?

That AI is some kind of project management autopilot that can magically run your PMO.

Here's the reality I shared on the podcast: AI isn't going to automatically generate your project plans or replace your judgment in stakeholder management.

Trust me, I've seen project managers spend hours trying to get AI to create the perfect risk register when they could have done it themselves in half the time!

Navigating AI Ethics in Project Management

The conversation around AI ethics isn't just for tech companies anymore. Here's what PMO leaders need to know:

• Major organizations are developing formal AI governance frameworks

• There's growing emphasis on transparent AI use in project deliverables

• Teams are creating guidelines for AI-assisted vs. AI-generated work

• New tools are emerging to help track and manage AI usage in projects

AI-Assisted vs. AI-Generated

During our discussion, we explored a crucial distinction for project managers.

Think of it this way: your project management software doesn't manage the project – you do.

Here's how to think about AI assistance:

• Use AI to enhance status report writing and communications

• Leverage it for initial project timeline estimates

• Deploy it for meeting summary generation

• Utilize it for preliminary risk analysis

The key? Maintaining your professional judgment while using AI to handle repetitive tasks.

Getting Started: Your AI Implementation Roadmap

Feeling overwhelmed by all the AI project management tools flooding your LinkedIn feed? Here's your practical action plan:

1. Start with make.com (their free tier is perfect for experimenting)

2. Focus on automating one repetitive task at a time

3. Map your current tool ecosystem before adding AI

4. Begin with small pilots and scale based on results

The Future of AI in Project Management

Based on current trends, here's what I believe PMO leaders should prepare for:

• AI will get better at understanding project context and dependencies

• The importance of human relationship management will increase

• Platforms will evolve to better integrate AI capabilities

• Tools like Google's Notebook LM will revolutionize project documentation

Resources

Ready to explore? Here are the tools we discussed that have particular relevance for project managers:

• make.com for workflow automation

• Google's Notebook LM for knowledge management

• My weekly AI strategy newsletter The CAIO

Project Manager's Takeaway

Remember this: The future of project management isn't about AI replacing your expertise – it's about finding the sweet spot where technology amplifies your natural abilities to lead teams and deliver results.

As I emphasized in the podcast, your experience in stakeholder management and ability to navigate complex organizational dynamics will always be your greatest assets.

-Ed

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OK. That’s all. Talk to you next week.

-Ed

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