PM Without Authority is just a Punching Bag with a Calendar
How Stakeholders Shape Reality? 2 Disgruntled PMs Podcast
Hey, I’m Gabor, and welcome to the Agile Admiral weekly newsletter. Your Essential Resource for Project Management Excellence.
Each week, I tackle reader questions about PMP preparation, how to implement PMP into real-life projects, and a Senior Project Manager career.
For more: Project vs. Change Management | The Chaos Coordinator | What Project Managers and Chefs have in common? | PMP Passing Rate | Power of Lessons Learned | Critical Path vs Critical Chain |
What's Inside This Edition:
A project manager without authority is just a punching bag with a calendar.
Managing Perceptions for Project Success: How Stakeholders Shape Reality?
2 Disgruntled PMs Podcast
BUT FIRST, LOCK IN
Feeling Stuck with PMP Prep? This Will Help.
Now, let’s continue
Without real authority, you're just a punching bag with a calendar.
You absorb blame.
You chase updates.
You manage scope, risk, and emotions, without the power to say no or make it stick.
🟡 What authority really means:
Having a voice that gets heard — not just listened to.
Influencing priorities — and not just reacting to them.
Saying "no" without fear — because boundaries matter.
Shaping process — not just executing tasks.
Being backed by leadership — not hung out to dry.
🟢 What to do instead:
✅ Build trust across teams. Influence is currency.
✅ Make your role visible. Speak up. Educate stakeholders.
✅ Ask for sponsorship. Get a leader to back your voice in tough rooms.
✅ Push for clarity. Authority without role clarity is noise.
✅ Be proactive. Don’t wait to be given power — act like a leader now.
💡 You don’t need to be a dictator. You need to be a respected driver.
Managing Perceptions for Project Success: How Stakeholders Shape Reality
Project success isn’t just about execution—stakeholder perceptions play a critical role in determining whether a project is seen as valuable. Learn how to shape success narratives, manage perceptions, and align stakeholder expectations to maximize project impact.
Why perception matters in project success
Project leaders have been traditionally measured by their ability to deliver on time, in scope, and on budget. Today, it’s clear that managing the triple constraint is not enough. New research shows project success isn’t just about hitting targets—it’s about whether stakeholders perceive a project as valuable. For some high performing project professionals, this is nothing new. Yet, for many PMs who are “technically successful”, a broader perspective on what qualifies as success could offer a way to level up.
This shift in thinking is at the core of PMI’s latest research, which challenges traditional definitions of project success. The findings show that delivering value that is worth the effort and expense is what truly matters. While hard metrics remain essential, stakeholder perception plays a critical role in determining whether a project is seen as successful. In fact, those same perceptions often inform the goals and metrics tracked. The greater the overall alignment, the better our chances are of achieving success. If stakeholders don’t perceive the project’s outcomes as valuable, success remains elusive, even if all KPIs are met.
Managing stakeholder perceptions isn’t just helpful—it’s essential for the broader team’s commitment to value delivery and ensuring that your project, overall, is viewed as a success. Project professionals who understand this gain more influence and credibility, elevating their careers along with their projects.
The role of hard metrics: Why measurement matters (but isn’t enough)
PMI’s research found that projects with clear performance measurement systems are twice as likely to be perceived as successful. Hard metrics provide structure, accountability, and benchmarks for project execution. Without them, it’s impossible to track progress effectively. Individuals or stakeholder groups may have additional hard metrics they perceive as key. Understanding those can help a project leader pick up on nuanced needs which can make a huge difference in perceived outcomes.
However, data alone doesn’t guarantee the project will be viewed as successful. If it did, success would just be ‘calculated’ and every well-executed project would be celebrated. Instead, stakeholder perceptions typically determine whether a project is seen as valuable.
Perception is not just important in the context of projects. It plays a trusted role in everyday judgements. Consider Amazon reviews: Consumers don’t just trust product specifications; they trust other people’s perceptions of a product’s quality. The same principle applies to project success—if key stakeholders don’t believe the project delivered value, the data won’t change their minds. However, influence from other human beings just might.
Research shows measurement should guide decisions, not just track them. A key finding of PMI’s research on project success is that project measurement systems must do more than track progress—they should align and guide decision-making. In fact, project success scores doubled when three conditions were met:
Success criteria were established early
A measurement system was in place that guided decisions.
Metrics were tracked throughout the entire project.
However, only 37% of projects currently follow all three of these practices, revealing a significant opportunity for improvement.
Thus, while hard metrics are essential, they must be defined, framed and communicated in ways that resonate with stakeholders. This is where perception management comes in.
Perception is reality: How stakeholders define success
Stephen R. Covey once said, "We see the world, not as it is, but as we are—or, as we are conditioned to see it." This idea is particularly relevant in project management, where stakeholder perceptions are shaped by their experiences, biases, and expectations rather than just objective metrics.
Rather than relying solely on structured data, stakeholder perceptions often emerge through informal conversations. For example, a project team might focus on meeting defined success metrics, but if executives or end-users discuss frustrations informally—whether in meetings, emails, or casual hallway conversations—those sentiments can outweigh formal project reports in shaping overall perception.
While project teams focus on delivering key metrics, stakeholders are informed by those same metrics. However, they make judgements about success or failure based on discussions, shared experiences, and how the project’s outcomes align with their expectations. This means that managing perception isn’t just about presenting data—it’s about actively engaging in the conversations that shape success narratives.
Project success isn’t binary—it exists on a continuum shaped by different perspectives. PMI’s research found that projects with strong execution and outcome alignment had the highest perceived success rates. However, those perceptions are always colored by stakeholders experiences, expectations, and intuition—not just data.
Continue reading → PMI Blog
2 Disgruntled PMs Podcast
2 Disgruntled PMs is a no-nonsense podcast hosted by two veteran project managers. With a combined 31 years of experience navigating real-world project delivery's complexities, chaos, and curveballs, the hosts are pulling back the curtain on what it takes to lead projects.
This isn’t another podcast filled with fluff, theory, or buzzwords. This is real talk from the trenches. Each episode dives into the lessons no one puts on a slide, the leadership moments not covered in training, and the raw truths behind the polished decks. From project missteps and stakeholder battles to strategic pivots and personal growth... nothing is off limits.
💥 What to expect:
→ Unfiltered conversations with experienced PMs
→ Behind-the-scenes insights into launching and managing real projects
→ Stories that reflect the grit, pressure, and people side of project work
→ Honest takes on certifications, hiring, and what success looks like
Whether you’re a seasoned PM or just starting your journey, 2 Disgruntled PMs is your space for authentic, actionable, and sometimes uncomfortable truths about the job we live every day.
Follow us for updates, new episode drops, and guest announcements. Join the growing community of project managers who are done pretending and ready to keep it real.
Hosts: Daniel Hemhauser; Trevor Greenberg
Thank you for reading. Appreciate you!
PMP prep is not a weight-loss program. You do not need to study for 4 to 6 months to get certified. Here are my solutions for you:
👉🏼Do it together - join the PMP Operation System
https://gaborstramb.com/
👉🏼Do it 1-on-1 - join 8-week coaching program
https://gaborstramb.com/special-offer