2023 Trends in Project Management
A new calendar year is an opportunity to refresh and reset. Though many project teams have likely already completed audits for the year and may have already done their financial outlook and budgeting for a corporate calendar that began October 1, the traditional new year still offers a chance to for goal setting. As you consider your team’s focus areas for 2023, let’s dive into what’s trending in the industry at large. Are there areas you haven’t considered yet? What about trends you’ve already been implementing for years? What does their sudden popularity mean for your team?
Among the trends we see on the horizon for the new year, here are three major ones to expect:
Flexibility
The true definition of flexibility has become crystal clear over the past few years. From pivoting to remote work during the pandemic to weathering several major shifts in the economy and workforce, we’re all aware of the need to adapt. Yet a number of organizations are pushing back against the flexibility that has become the norm by calling employees back to the office full time and failing to adapt roles and responsibilities for a new era. If you think that remote work and reconsidering how the workforce operates are things of the past, you’re in for a shock.
We may be facing a recession in first half of 2023, and as ongoing workforce shortages show, employees are not willing to go back to the way things were. The need for flexibility is critical for both business operations and people operations. We anticipate that organizations will be focusing on how to build flexibility into the foundation of project work, perhaps even creating a need for more experts and consultants in the field of “flexible work operations.”
2. Hybrid in more ways than one
A large part of that necessary flexibility will be continuing to support and even expand a hybrid workforce. While this can mean a hybrid schedule of some in-office days and some work-from-home days for your team, hybrid work is taking on a more complex definition. For example, more teams are considering that what hybrid and flexible work looks like will depend on the individual team member. Some employees may prefer a completely remote position while some may want to be in the office more than just a few days a week. Balancing the needs of a full team can be tricky and will require communication.
In addition, more companies recognizing the benefits of continued remote work opens the door for some team members to be local and for some to live in other states or even other countries. For 2023, we see a need for organizations to learn how to build community among their team members no matter where they are in the world.
Lastly, your project team likely now has a wide range of ages among members. You may have folks from up to four different generations working alongside each other and bringing different ideas and needs to the table. You’ll want to consider how to balance these differences while weaving their strengths together.
3. Change management
The need for flexibility and evolving hybrid workforces points to continuous change becoming a fact of life for project teams for years to come. While change ultimately leads to innovation and more resilient organizations, change fatigue is a very real challenge. Being part of a team that is constantly moving ahead can be exciting, but if things are constantly shifting, it can also feel unstable.
In project management, change management is a role and art all its own, and it’s one that often requires the help of an outside consultant. The key is remembering that how your team is adapting and reacting to changes in your organization plays a large role in your projects’ success. Communication is rule number one in change management. Does your team feel like they are a part of the decisions, and do they understand why a certain change is needed?
These three trends become more complicated when your team utilizes the Earned Value Management (EVM) style of project management. But don’t let that stress you. Instead, lean into the chance to be creative and forge ahead on a new path. If you need support on your EVM journey, reach out to us today.