Portfolio and Project Management: Humanising Change from Strategy to Delivery

Change doesn’t scare people, the unknown does. That insight lies at the heart of effective portfolio and project management. Whether you’re shaping direction at the portfolio level or delivering outcomes at the project level, humanising change is what makes the difference.

Why Portfolio Management Must Be Human-Centric

Portfolio management isn’t just a spreadsheet exercise, it’s about weaving together strategic intent with real-world delivery, guided by empathy, clarity and culture.

• Strategic coherence over busy work: As Jasmine emphasises, there’s gold in stopping to see if our initiatives ladder up to organisational strategy. Using a simple matrix, strategic coherence vs value delivered helps board-level sponsors differentiate impactful investments from low‑value distractions.
• Culture as the invisible glue: A positive, inclusive culture shapes how teams collaborate, innovate, manage conflict and adapt. Educated empathy and intentional behaviours are key in shaping portfolio success.

From Portfolio to Project: Guide Change with Heart

At the project level, the stakes are specific, immediate and deeply human:

• Demystify the unknown: Projects introduce change, and change breeds uncertainty. Great leaders bring clarity, context and confidence at every turn.
• Ground-up engagement: Real change starts with boots on the ground, consulting people, using their language, and showing practical benefits. It’s doing change, not just talking about it.
• Innovate beyond bendy frameworks: The PM world hasn’t had a major methodology shift since Agile launched 24 years ago, Jasmine posits it’s time to introduce more flexible, modern approaches.

Practical Tips to Humanise Portfolio & Projects

1. Plot your initiatives: Use a coherence‑vs‑value matrix to plainly show what deserves focus.
2. Connect culture to outcomes: Celebrate curiosity, active listening and diverse perspectives, they fuel adaptability and resilience.
3. Scope with care: Clear, human-centric scoping at the outset prevents later misalignment.
4. Communicate with clarity: Make space for two‑way conversation; share what’s changing and why in everyday language.
5. Prioritise doing, not dictating: Use prototypes, pilot groups, and workshops to co-create solutions.
6. Draw the line on low‑value work: Hard conversations early can free up resources for what matters.
7. Evolve your methods: Don’t cling to 1990s playbooks, experiment with hybrid, scalable and human‑centred methodologies

Why This Approach Works

• Fewer surprises - and fewer resistances when people are informed, consulted and included.
• Better ROI - strategic coherence ensures time and money go towards what truly matters.
• Boosted engagement - trust grows when teams feel heard, valued and supported.
• Built-in innovation - people are more open to new ways when they’re part of shaping the journey, not just following it.

Humanise to Harmonise

Portfolio and project management are not about controlling change, they’re about curating it. They’re about aligning heart and mind, vision and execution, strategy and reality.

Done well, they foster agility, accountability and a shared sense of purpose. Done poorly, they create busywork, burnout and disengagement.

Whether you’re at the helm of a portfolio or leading complex projects, challenge yourself:

• Are your initiatives truly strategically coherent?
• Have you grounded your plans in your team’s culture?
• Are you humanising change, consulting, collaborating, and inspiring?

If you’d like to explore frameworks or training that bring heart and strategy into change-driven project and portfolio management, I’d love to have a conversation.