What makes a programme manager truly successful? To answer that question, we spoke with Janne, an experienced programme manager who earned her stripes at ARAG for Harmony Group over almost three years.
Her story offers a wealth of practical wisdom, both for aspiring programme managers and for organisations that want to take their project management to the next level.
The essence of programme management
When Janne took on her role as programme manager at ARAG, she quickly realised that her job involved far more than overseeing individual projects.
"As a programme manager, you're responsible for several simultaneous projects that influence each other. Managing the impact of one project on another is the core of the role. Often these are projects with overlapping scope or shared resources."
For Janne, it was clear from the start that a few core responsibilities are crucial for success.
Janne's list of responsibilities?
- Strategic alignment: Bringing all projects in line with ARAG's overarching business objectives.
- Resource management: Making sure people and resources are used optimally across different projects.
- Programme-level risk management: Identifying and addressing risks that could affect multiple projects.
- Stakeholder management: Aligning the expectations and involvement of the various stakeholders.
- Change management: Guiding the organisation through the transformation the programme brought about.
A programme manager's toolkit
As Janne grew into her role, she realised that succeeding at those many core tasks also required a unique combination of skills. One of her most important insights was the importance of people skills:
"People skills are vital, because you often sit between decision-making and execution, so you communicate at different levels. The human side really can't be underestimated."
What else belongs in a programme manager's toolbelt?
- Strategic thinking: "You always have to see the bigger picture and be able to translate long-term goals into concrete actions."
- Adaptive leadership: "Different teams and situations need different leadership styles, and you have to be able to adapt to that."
- Analytical skills: "It often comes down to understanding the underlying data and then making well-considered decisions."
- Time management: "As a programme manager, you really learn to juggle the priorities of all those underlying projects."
The power of strategic pauses
But one of the most surprising and valuable skills Janne learned was the importance of pausing deliberately:
"One of the biggest lessons for me was daring to press pause. By nature, I'm someone who always keeps going, but as a programme manager it's essential to sometimes step back so you can analyse better."
"In a role where constant action and decision-making are expected, the ability to deliberately take a step back can make the difference between reactive and proactive management."
The effect of a good programme manager
So that's a lot of important core tasks, and an impressive list of skills. But the most important question, of course, is: what impact do you make?
By coordinating projects seamlessly, Janne saw resources being used better and ARAG becoming able to push through major changes faster.
"By managing the interdependencies well, the chances of success of individual projects naturally go up. As a programme manager, you're a direct link between strategy and execution. If you keep everything under control, you'll move forward together with all stakeholders."
Harmony's approach
Janne's role as programme manager is no coincidence. Her vision reflects very well how we work at Harmony.
People first: Just as Janne stresses the importance of people skills, we recognise that the success of projects and programmes stands or falls with the people who carry them out.
A culture of continuous learning: Janne's willingness to learn and grow is in Harmony's DNA. Our mission is to create a "top athlete" environment in which reflection and knowledge sharing are central.
Trusted partnership: Partnership is central for us, which is why we always make sure projects and programmes are perfectly aligned with our clients' organisational ambitions.
Start your transformation journey
Janne's journey as a programme manager shows the versatility, the challenges and the essential role of this function in modern organisations.
Whether you're an aspiring programme manager who wants to follow in Janne's footsteps, or an organisation struggling to manage complex, interconnected projects: the right approach can make the difference between scattered efforts and a coordinated, effective transformation.
- For professionals: Inspired by Janne's story and considering a career as a programme manager? Then you probably still have lots of questions. We're happy to answer them, so feel free to get in touch.
- For organisations: Want to maximise the impact of your programmes, as ARAG did with Harmony? Schedule a free strategy session with one of our senior consultants and find out how we can help your organisation move forward!
Together, we turn challenges into opportunities for growth and innovation!
