Therapy for Change: Eddie Obeng’s Keynote Lessons for PMOs // PMO Conference Keynote

When Eddie took the stage, bright orange shirt and all, it was clear this wasn’t going to be a standard PMO talk. Instead of a lecture, he gave the room something closer to group therapy, a mix of humour, straight talk, and practical techniques for surviving (and thriving) in today’s world of relentless change.

He started by reframing therapy. Not about diagnoses or technical fixes, but about care, for people, for teams, and for ourselves in the face of constant disruption. His core message was simple but powerful: it’s not you, it’s your environment. And once you recognise the environment you’re working in, you can respond with more energy, clarity, and impact.

Recorded Session

Main Themes

Hopes, Fears, and Fixing It Fast

Eddie kicked off by asking the audience for their greatest hopes and fears. It wasn’t just ice-breaking banter – it set the tone. By surfacing expectations early, he demonstrated the importance of “pre-eliminating” issues before they derail the work. His mantra: fix it, contain it, or monitor it before it bites you tomorrow.

The World Has Changed — Have We?

He drew a sharp contrast between the old world of predictable budgets and hierarchies versus today’s reality: volatility, constant demands, hybrid teams, and AI-driven ambiguity. Too many organisations, he argued, are still acting like goldfish in water they don’t notice – clinging to outdated hierarchies and rituals. The quicker we adapt to the real environment, the happier and more effective we’ll be.

Human Connection Over Process

In a playful exercise, Eddie had people try (and fail) to count to three in pairs. The point? People weren’t really listening to each other. Only when laughter and connection kicked in did the exercise flow. His takeaway: value comes from connection, not from showing off how smart you are. PMOs succeed when they serve others, not when they stand apart.

Value = Benefit – Cost

He illustrated this with a dented ladder story. PMOs can add process after process, but unless stakeholders perceive real benefit (not hassle), the value evaporates. Stakeholders decide the benefit; PMOs control the cost. The formula is blunt but true: Value = Benefit – Cost.

Information vs. Data

Another big theme was cutting through noise. Senior leaders don’t want piles of data; they want answers to their questions. Eddie’s advice: start with the question first, then gather the data needed to answer it. It’s service-focused, efficient, and far more impactful than dashboard overload.

Different Kinds of Change

Not all projects are equal. Some are clear-cut (we know what and how), others are foggy (we don’t know either). Treating them all the same is a recipe for stress and failure. PMOs should adjust rhythms, tools, and leadership style based on the type of change at hand.

Key Insights

• Surface fears early: It lowers anxiety, increases motivation, and creates capacity.

• Adapt to the environment: Recognise today’s world of volatility and stop relying on outdated rituals.

• Connection beats ego: Listening and laughing together builds trust faster than PowerPoints ever will.

• Value is stakeholder-defined: Focus less on internal processes, more on outcomes they care about.

• Questions before data: Don’t drown leaders in dashboards; answer the things that keep them up at night.

• Not all projects are alike: Fog projects need daily touchpoints; clear ones need less frequent oversight.

Try This in Your PMO

1. Run a “hopes and fears” check-in at the start of your next big meeting or project – you’ll spot risks before they become blockers.
2. Ask your execs one simple question: “What’s the one thing you need to know from us this month?” Build reporting around that.
3. Audit your rituals – are you still doing old-world governance because “that’s how we’ve always done it”? Stop the pointless stuff.
4. Shift your project rhythms – tailor reporting cadence and governance depending on whether it’s a clear, fog, pain, or quest-type change.
5. Inject human connection – add a laugh, a simple exercise, or even just space for real conversation. Energy fuels delivery more than Gantt charts.

This keynote wasn’t just entertainment. Eddie reminded us that PMOs aren’t there to push process for process’ sake. We’re here to reduce anxiety, build energy, and create real value by connecting people to outcomes that matter. Therapy for change? Absolutely.

Extra Resources

If you want to dig deeper into some of the ideas Eddie highlighted, here’s a handy list:

• Cynefin Framework – David Snowden’s sense-making model for tackling different types of change.[Link]

• David Snowden’s work & SenseMaker® – practical tools and thinking for navigating complexity and gathering stories.[Link]

• Good Strategy, Bad Strategy by Richard Rumelt – especially useful for the “diagnose, guiding policy, coherent actions” approach.[Link]

• Start With Why by Simon Sinek – a reminder to anchor change in purpose, not just process.[Link]

• Amy Edmondson’s research on Psychological Safety – showing why safety and trust are the foundation for high-performing teams.[Link]

• Eddie’s Hopes & Fears™ – a structured way to get people talking about what they’re excited about and what’s worrying them, before those fears quietly derail progress  [Link]

All Change!: The Secret Art of Transformation, Perfect Project and Change Management (2nd Edition) [Link] Eddie’s latest, refreshingly practical update to his classic All Change!, blending storytelling with new PETs (Performance Enhancement Tools), Perfect Project, and transformation insights – all set in his QUBE virtual campus.