This document discusses three types of project sponsors: overly demanding sponsors who push teams constantly, absent sponsors who are never available, and engaged sponsors who are involved early and communicate openly with the team. It suggests that the key to getting an engaged "just right" sponsor is to have a deliberate project selection process, ensure the sponsor understands change management fundamentals, and for the team to guide the sponsor using tools like a RACI matrix. Having the right engaged sponsor leads to a happy ending for projects.

1. Project Sponsors: it’s all
about making choices
DFW Scrum – Lighting Talk
October 18, 2016
Presented by Greg Gomel
Illustrations by Grant Gomel

2. Do you feel like it’s luck the decides if you get
a “good” project sponsor?

3. What if I could show you how to get yours to
be where you need them to be?

4. Let’s look at 3 types of sponsors – they’re like
the ones from the Goldilocks story

5. One is too hard: “it’s a push, push, push world
out there”

6. They get what they want by using the burnt
earth method – whatever it takes.

7. And might ALWAYS be around; adding value by
telling you what, how and when (sometimes why).

8. And pray you don’t have an escalation take
place…

9. The next is the softy, aka the absentee
landlord.

10. They might have been assigned their role by
not moving out of the way fast enough.

11. They’re identified by never being around
when you need them.

12. If you do track them down, try getting a
commitment out of them; hey, where’d he go?

13. Then there’s the project sponsor that’s just
right.

14. They’re involved early on, since it’s their project;
but they engage you in clarifying roles,
responsibilities and escalation paths.

15. You know what they want and when they want
it; communication is open and two-way.

16. What made the difference and how do we get
to just right?

17. First, sponsorship isn’t an accidental role and
project selection process makes sense

18. Second, the sponsor understands and practices the
fundamentals of effective change management.

19. Third, you’re there to guide, and upwardly manage
them to be what you need; using a RACI is a great
first step.

20. Here’s to you having a happy ending to your
Goldilocks story of making good choices!
greggomel@thegomelgroup.com