Historically, a project management professional certification is typically not required, yet PMs are accountable delivering on time, within budget, and managing scope and risk.
The PM many times has to play referee, marry the needs and discriminate the wants of multiple stakeholders — all while delivering on time and within budget and to scope. That gap is exactly why I just completed the International Partnering Institute’s (IPI) Partnering Facilitator Certification along with 6 of my H&H colleagues.
Comprised of more than 150 member organizations, IPI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing Collaborative Partnering and Collaborative Delivery Methods through certification and training, networking, and resource development.
IPI’s rigorous program is built around one idea; technical expertise get a project designed. but it takes structured facilitation to get it delivered.
IPI equips the Project Manager with the skills to facilitate progress throughout the life of the project, along with:
- Trust-building protocols
- Consensus-based problem solving
- Alignment workshops
- Partnering charters
- Issue escalation frameworks
Most PMs are trained almost exclusively in technical and contractual control. But every day, they’re mediating scope, schedule, risk, and human dynamics — the “soft” skills that actually determine whether a program hits its marks. That’s the difference between a PM who coordinates and a PM who leads.
It’s also the difference we’re building into the H&H Program Delivery practice: PMs who can “facilitate” to deliver efficiently and effectively along with leading partnering sessions without agencies having to bring in outside facilitators.
Has your agency ever brought in an outside facilitator to get a project team aligned? What made the difference?
