The Library

Welcome to the Library!

 

It is good to rub, and polish our brain against that of others.

Michel Eyquem de Montaigne

(1533 – 1592, French Renaissance philosopher and writer)

Welcome to The Library, this is a place where you can share experience and knowledge with fellow PMO. As the host of this rather marvellous place my aim is help you find answers to your questions. As with all good libraries, there are lots of different sources that we draw on. I won’t know all of the answers, that is a fact. What I can do is help you find them. That might be through sharing my own experiences, by introducing you to people who have experience or even facilitating discussion groups.

Let’s share to become an even better, stronger PMO community that organisations can depend on and have confidence in.

Book Recommendations

Stories

I like to tell stories and I like to hear them. Maybe it’s because I am just simple and don’t have a long attention span; actually, that definitely factors in there. For me, it’s a much easier way to remember things. There are some great storytellers out there.

I want to share my thoughts on the power of storytelling in future blogs.

The future belongs to a different kind of person with a different kind of mind: artists, inventors, storytellers-creative and holistic ‘right-brain’ thinkers.

Daniel Pink

Tell me the facts and I’ll learn. Tell me the truth and I’ll believe. But tell me a story and it will live in heart forever.

Native American Proverb

Storytelling is the most powerful way to put ideas into the world.

Robert McKee

If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten

Rudyard Kipling, English short-story writer, poet and novelist

Google can bring you back 100,000 answers, a librarian can bring you back the right one.

Neil Gaiman 

Zoe O’Toole

I chose to leave the dark side after 10 years delivering projects and have been very happy since working within the awesome world of PMO for about 15 years now. Supporting organisations to deliver change in a way that works successfully for them is my sweet spot. For me, it’s all about the story. I have been described as quirky but I think that’s ok right?

Who should come and check out the library?

Anyone who wants to learn, find different solutions to challenge or share experiences or new knowledge; everyone is welcome.

Every day is a learning day; it’s a cliché but cliches tend to evolve because they are true.

Who is Zoe O’Toole?

I love PMO.

With nearly 25 years working in project management it’s fair to say I’ve been around. After 10 years in delivery I knew that the part of project management that really made my heart sing was PMO. I love the collaboration, consultancy and coaching aspects of this role. I was employed for the majority of my working life and have run my own business for the last 7 years. My employers and clients span from large established corporates, to small growing businesses to individuals wanting support with their own PMO careers. Success for me is embedded great PMO practice, renewed energy, sustainable control of change and a desire to keep improving on foundations laid. I’m a working PMO who loves to learn, through conferences, study and network. My PMO super power is converting  knowledge and theory learned into sensible, workable, tailored solutions.

I’m also happily married with a teenage daughter and many, many pets. (And I mean, many!). I love trying out new things; for instance, in the last year I learned how to knit, bake a swiss roll and get rid of sourcrop in a chicken.

What do you find the most frustrating / challenging about PMO?

Business Leaders supporting/agreeing with PMO in words but not practice.

The reputation of PMO being administrators and police.

What would you like to do in the Library?

Spread the love. Show as many influencers as possible what great looks like; get them to feel and experience what great PMO is. Influence other PMO people to do the same.

Get in Touch with Zoe