From left to right: Greg Stine, Connie Figley, Charlie Waligura, Brantlee Underhill at the PMI Leadership ShowcaseWe are having rich, content-filled days here at the "LIM" (Leadership Institute Meeting). Membership and credential holder engagement are hot topics amongst the volunteer leadership. With nearly 420,000 combined members and credential holders in PMI--50 percent of Project Management Professionals (PMP®) credential holders are members--our opportunity and challenge is to rethink the mindset of how we deliver.
There are many reasons people come to PMI. Even the reasons why a person acquires membership vs. PMP certification are different. Generally, PMI research can help tell us why--and locally, chapters need to validate that information. Chapters have the opportunity to build creative solutions with trusted partners like PMI and others in the project management community, to give their members what they need, while doing the same for credential holders.
For example, while knowledge and networking are some of the top reasons why people join and renew their PMI membership, it is not the case in Japan. I met with our Tokyo Chapter today.
The Japanese don't consider networking a primary value offering. The chapter offers opportunities, yet networking is not one of the top drivers of involvement. Knowledge is key, and the chapter has worked with PMI to translate several PMI standards into Japanese, which makes the Japanese version of A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) one of PMI's best sellers. And working together, we have enabled a technical solution for the Tokyo Chapter to send members to a Japanese language membership renewal process.
What a model of maturity and forward thinking. My team was impressed with the discipline and process they have instilled in their operations. It was the first time I saw a chapter define a branch development and maturation process. They truly understand and embrace the value of business development planning and strategic alignment. They are considering their markets and understand what the segments need.
Good things are yet to come, and the leaders keep coming back. Today I caught up with some "old timers" (they said it, not me!). Just check out Connie's "flair" in the picture--the pins say it all and document her years of involvement.
Leave a comment