How do you learn and improve from project strategy and governance alignment experiences?

1 Assess alignment regularly

Alignment is not a one-time event, but a continuous process that requires constant monitoring and adjustment. You should assess the alignment of your project strategy and governance with the organizational strategy and governance at key milestones, such as initiation, planning, execution, and closure. Use tools such as stakeholder analysis, SWOT analysis, risk register, and benefits realization plan to identify any gaps, conflicts, or changes in the alignment. Communicate the results of your assessment to your project team, sponsors, and stakeholders, and seek their feedback and input.

2 Learn from feedback and lessons learned

Feedback and lessons learned are valuable sources of learning and improvement for your project strategy and governance alignment. You should solicit feedback from your project team, sponsors, stakeholders, and customers throughout the project lifecycle, and especially after completing or delivering a major deliverable, phase, or outcome. You should also conduct a formal lessons learned session at the end of the project, or at the end of each phase for large or long-term projects. Use feedback and lessons learned to identify what worked well and what didn't, and what you can do better next time.

3 Update and document your alignment strategy

Based on your assessment, feedback, and lessons learned, you should update and document your project strategy and governance alignment strategy. This includes revising your project vision, scope, objectives, deliverables, success criteria, assumptions, constraints, risks, issues, dependencies, and benefits. It also includes updating your project governance framework, roles, responsibilities, decision-making processes, communication channels, reporting mechanisms, and escalation procedures. You should document your alignment strategy in your project charter, plan, and other relevant documents, and share it with your project team, sponsors, and stakeholders.

4 Align your actions and behaviors

Your project strategy and governance alignment is not only reflected in your documents, but also in your actions and behaviors. You should align your actions and behaviors with your alignment strategy, and demonstrate your commitment and accountability to your project team, sponsors, and stakeholders. You should also encourage and support your project team members to align their actions and behaviors with the alignment strategy, and provide them with the necessary guidance, resources, and recognition. You should also align your actions and behaviors with the organizational culture, values, and norms, and respect the diversity and perspectives of your project team, sponsors, and stakeholders.

5 Seek and share best practices

One of the best ways to learn and improve from your project strategy and governance alignment experiences is to seek and share best practices with other project managers, practitioners, and experts. You can do this by participating in professional networks, communities of practice, forums, webinars, podcasts, blogs, or courses related to project management and alignment. You can also seek and share best practices within your organization, by joining or creating internal knowledge-sharing platforms, events, or mentoring programs. By seeking and sharing best practices, you can learn from the successes and failures of others, and discover new ideas, tools, or methods to enhance your alignment skills.

6 Reflect and celebrate

Finally, you should reflect and celebrate your project strategy and governance alignment experiences. You should take time to review your alignment journey, and appreciate the achievements, challenges, and learnings that you and your project team have accomplished. You should also celebrate your alignment results, and recognize the contributions and efforts of your project team, sponsors, and stakeholders. You should also celebrate yourself, and acknowledge your growth and development as a project manager and alignment leader. By reflecting and celebrating, you can boost your confidence, motivation, and satisfaction, and prepare yourself for future alignment opportunities.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?