Transforming Governance: From Eyerolls to Engagement

Do you think governance is boring? Many do, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Governance—it’s a term that often elicits sighs and eye rolls in many organisations. Seen as a necessary evil, governance can be perceived as bureaucratic, stifling innovation, and hindering progress. But what if governance could be more than just a box-ticking exercise? What if it could be engaging, collaborative, and even fun?

At AMO, we believe in transforming the governance landscape. We see governance not as a barrier but as a vital driver of organisational success. Imagine governance that is as dynamic and effective as your most successful projects—this is our vision. Governance, often seen as a bureaucratic necessity, is crucial for organisational success. With the right approach, it can become engaging and even enjoyable. Imagine if governance were as sleek, dynamic, and engaging as your most successful projects.

Why Does Governance Matter

Before delving into the transformation, let’s understand why governance is crucial. Effective governance ensures that projects align with strategic objectives, mitigates risks, and optimizes resource allocation. According to PMI’s Pulse of the Profession 2020 report, organisations with robust governance practices are 29% more likely to achieve project success. Despite its importance, governance often faces resistance due to its perceived complexity and rigidity.

Why is governance so critical? Effective governance ensures projects align with strategic goals, manages risks, and optimizes resource utilization. Despite its importance, governance often receives a bad reputation, perceived more as a hindrance than a facilitator of success. This perspective can lead to disengagement and reduced enthusiasm.

So, how can we change this perception? By making governance relatable and enjoyable. Yes, it’s possible to enjoy governance!

The Shift to Understanding Governance Better

Understanding governance requires a shift in perspective from rigid protocols to a dynamic framework that supports organisational goals. Rather than viewing governance as a bureaucratic imposition, it should be seen as a strategic enabler that enhances decision-making and accountability.

By fostering a culture where governance is transparent, adaptable, and inclusive, organizations can ensure that it serves as a guiding force for achieving operational excellence and driving sustainable growth. This approach not only aligns teams with overarching objectives but also cultivates a shared responsibility for success, transforming governance into a cornerstone of organisational effectiveness and innovation.

On behalf of anyone who has endured the frustration of an ineffective, rigid, or just plain bad PMO (Project Management Office), let me extend an apology. We’ve all been there, navigating through the labyrinth of paperwork, endless meetings about meetings, and charts that seem more confusing than illuminating. It’s like trying to decipher ancient hieroglyphs without a Rosetta Stone. But fear not! There’s a better way forward.

The Shift to Engaging Governance

So, how do we shift from eye rolls to engagement? It starts with changing the narrative around governance. Governance should not be seen as a set of rules imposed from above but as a framework that empowers teams to deliver their best work. By making governance more relatable, interactive, and aligned with organisational culture, we can foster buy-in and enthusiasm across all levels.

Did you know?

• Gamification boosts employee engagement by 60%, making governance more enjoyable and motivating.
• Engaged employees are 87% less likely to leave their organisation, demonstrating the value of interactive collaboration.
• Visual tools enhance understanding and retention by up to 65%, improving decision-making and transparency.
• Role rotation enhances team cohesion and skill development, making governance more inclusive and effective.
• Stories are 22 times more memorable than facts alone, enhancing communication and team alignment.
• Effective feedback improves performance by 12%, fostering continuous improvement and shared accountability.

Applying Personas to Governance for Enhanced Effectiveness

In project management, practices like story mapping and leveraging personas ensure projects meet user needs effectively. However, these techniques are often overlooked in governance, leading to disconnects between processes and stakeholder expectations. By applying personas to governance, we better understand and cater to stakeholders’ preferences, motivations, and challenges. Whether your organisation integrates governance personas or not, representing these viewpoints can uncover gaps and enhance practices to better serve stakeholders.

Introducing some of the AMO Governance Personas

One innovative approach we advocate is the use of governance personas. Similar to customer personas used in marketing, governance personas help us understand the diverse needs, motivations, and challenges of stakeholders involved in governance processes. We have 17 personas in total, here is a sneak peek of a few of our personas:

o Reactive Rita: Quick to respond but often firefighting.

o Bureaucratic Barbara: She values adherence to protocol above all else, even if it hampers efficiency and stifles innovation.

o Agile Alex: Adapts quickly to change and values flexibility.

By tailoring governance practices to our personas, we ensure that governance is not only effective but also resonates with the individuals driving project success. Reach out if you’d like to learn more about all 17 personas in the AMO Way Model.

Injecting Fun into Governance

Injecting fun into governance can transform what is often seen as a dry, bureaucratic process into an engaging and collaborative endeavor. By incorporating gamification elements, interactive workshops, and visual tools like dynamic dashboards, we create opportunities for team members to participate actively and enjoyably. Celebrating successes, using storytelling to communicate progress, and fostering regular feedback loops further enhance engagement and make governance a shared journey rather than a chore. These approaches not only boost morale but also improve the effectiveness of governance frameworks by ensuring they resonate with and motivate team members. These initiatives not only make governance more enjoyable but also enhance transparency and engagement.

At AMO, we believe governance doesn’t have to be dry and bureaucratic. Instead, it’s an opportunity to foster engagement, collaboration, and yes, even inject some fun!

Putting it into Action

Governance Workshops: Engaging and Informative

For example with workshops which are designed to be engaging and informative, ensuring all personas are represented. We start with discovery sessions to understand team dynamics and identify governance gaps, ensuring tailored practices for everyone.

Tip: During discovery sessions, gather quantitative data alongside qualitative insights to gauge governance effectiveness objectively.

Interactive Activities

With workshops include activities catering to different personas, fostering collaboration and revealing hidden strengths.

Tip: Rotate facilitators for diverse perspectives and leadership skills, enhancing creativity and engagement during workshops.

Implementation Strategies

With governance frameworks that are effective, adaptive and embraced by teams through co-execution.

Tip: Pilot new frameworks to refine based on real-world feedback, ensuring successful adoption across the organisation.

Case Study – Driving Enterprise Change in Financial Services

In a climate of change fatigue, one of our client teams faced significant challenges—fatigue, overwhelm, and disengagement. With impending changes due to management shifts, skepticism was high. Recognising these issues, we introduced The AMO Way®, democratizing change participation and making it accessible and engaging. Despite initial reluctance, over 75% of the department embraced change through our inclusive, flexible approach and power of The AMO Way model. Collaboration and iterative feedback guided our progress, resulting in a notable increase in employee engagement scores and operational efficiencies. Needless to say, a continued customer for many years.

Driving Change and Collaboration

The journey towards transforming governance is not just about adopting new practices but also fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement. By empowering teams to participate actively in governance, we create a sense of ownership and accountability that drives organisational success.

Why settle for boring governance when it can be engaging and transformative? By understanding governance personas and implementing innovative strategies, we inject life into governance practices crucial for organisational success. Effective governance aligns projects with strategic goals, manages risks, and optimises resources—driving performance and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. How are you making governance more engaging and impactful in your organisation?

Injecting fun into governance isn’t just about making processes more enjoyable—it’s about unlocking greater productivity, innovation, and team satisfaction. Ready to transform your governance practices with the AMO Way personas and model? Discover how our tailored approach can align governance with your organisational culture, engage your teams, and drive measurable results. Embrace effective governance that not only meets objectives but also energizes your workforce. Contact us today to elevate your governance game and unleash the full potential of your projects, with our tailored Workshops.

What do you to improve governance outcomes. Let me know in the comments!

Gamification Promotional Offer: My unique and popular in person Project Management / Team Building Board Game Workshops booked in July - get 50% off! Normally $4,500. Bookings made for 2024 and booked in July - $2,250! These workshops have been run at companies like Chobani and L'Oreal with great success. More information or to book go here.

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