Project Leadership vs. Project Management – Getting to Successful Project Outcomes

Note: The Live Virtual course is presented in collaboration with CPA Western Provinces. The content is applicable to all participants. If you have questions regarding this course, please contact pdregistration@cpaalberta.ca.

Overview:

This course identifies the core tools and techniques to achieve successful project outcomes whether a project leader or manager. 

A project leader’s role is to lead people and processes to ensure successful project outcomes. The project leader engages the team, motivating them, taking care of their needs and supporting high performance. A project manager is responsible for managing daily activities of a project and to meet critical deadlines and outcomes. The project manager oversees the tactical duties related to a project. They are responsible for keeping the daily work of the team organized, focused and goal oriented as opposed to keeping the team motivated. Some businesses use the terms interchangeably. 

However, a project leader tends to have more control over the motivational, relational and context as well as more freedom to explore their own management styles. Project managers focus on the daily activities and actions and manage the project technologies. This distinction is critical to ensure project success. Consistently successful project leaders make an effort to reflect on core values, levels of curiosity, readiness for change and an accurate and continuing assessment of their strengths and those areas needing further development. They focus on managing the project while inspiring those who work around them to create their vision. 

Consistently successful project managers focus relentlessly on the end result — a successful project. Their concern is ensuring that the team meets objectives on time and that the project stays on-budget. is a core activity no matter if in the leader or manager role.  
 
During this course you will gain insight into your project leadership and management roles, your approach or “style” of leading and/or managing within personal, team and organizational contexts, align your own and your team's values with the core values of your organization, analyze the project management and/or leadership traits and skills you currently possess and determine which skills need enhancement and which require development. You will create an action plan to realize your own personal growth and effectiveness in achieving results.

Course Content:

In this course you will gain knowledge about the following topics: 

Using case studies and a computer-based simulation, participants will become familiar with “good” project practices to be successful in both roles!

Learning Objectives:

Upon completing this course, you should be able to:

• Identify project leadership and management ‘good practices’ in their work setting 
  
• Examine your project leadership and management “style” and its impact on cultural, generational and interpersonal team effectiveness 
  
• Understand the relationship between management and leadership and project success 
  
• Align your projects goals with organizational vision and strategy 
  
• Engage in project-based behaviours that contribute to organizational success 
  
• Create an environment that is motivating your project team  
  
• Overcome potential barriers to communication 
  
• Undertake stakeholder analysis and identify effective project decision-making tools and techniques 
  
• Identify and take into consideration each individual's interests and values when making decisions that affect them 
  
• Apply and assess learning with feedback from a computer-based simulation
  

Who Will Benefit: 

This course will benefit corporate leaders, any manager and those leading and managing projects and organizational initiatives.