Project and Team Leadership

Course Description

The Project and Team Leadership Specialist Certification Course is designed to help you develop the competences needed to play an active and effective leadership role within projects and project teams. Participants will explore the key aspects and traits of strong leaders and how to cultivate them.

The course examines the impact of leadership across different situations—leading a project, leading a team, making decisions, and managing conflicts. You will learn how effective leaders can prevent, detect, and resolve conflicts in business environments while guiding teams toward success.

Key Takeaways

Recognize the typical leadership traits and how they differ from management competences.

Assess leadership styles and competences in individuals and how adequate they are in project situations.

Give hints and directions to further develop leadership competences.

Understand the impact of leadership and project leadership on the organization.

Know how leaders can make a difference in projects and apply leadership skills in multicultural, virtual, and/or volatile contexts.

Understand the needs of a team to bring it to the performance stage.

Understand why the PMO needs a leader and what the benefits are to the organization.

Learn the cues and forms of conflict and become accountable for the decisions made.

Who should attend?

Project, program, and portfolio management professionals
Consultants (involved in projects and/or executive coaching)
PMO/IT managers and team members, portfolio managers, and senior management
HR and skills management professionals
Those responsible for leading and managing people in the context of projects

Prerequisites

6 months of experience in project management or PMOs

Exam

The online exam is run by AIPMO, and moderated by a proctor from AIPMO at the end of the course.
Open book exam, 50 multiple choice questions
Duration: 1 hour
Attendees are notified by email of the results of the exam

Our Training Approach

The training approach includes

Lecture

Team Exercise

Group Discussion

Case Study

Personal Coaching

Exam

Modules

Module 0: Welcome & Introduction to the Course

Module 1: Leadership in Organizations

Module 2: Project Leadership

Module 3: Team Leadership

Module 4: PMO Leadership

Module 5: Decision Making

Module 6: Conflict Management

Module 7: Leading Virtual & Hybrid Teams

Module 8: Case Study

Module 9: Exam & Certification

Introductions
AIPMO
Course outline, guidelines, and training approach

Definitions
Purpose of leadership
Leadership, ethics, and responsibility
Management and leadership – what and where is it required in the organization
From manager to leader
Impact on organizations
Levels of leadership
Leadership competencies
Bad habits of leadership
Gender differences in leadership styles and management
Leadership styles

Project leader versus project manager
Performance in organizations
Competencies of a project leader
Value for the organization
Horizontal versus vertical leadership

What is a team? Understanding the dynamics
Tuckman's model
Multicultural teams
Virtual team leadership
Agile team leadership: the power of empowerment

Definition of a PMO
Where PMOs exist in the organization
AIPMO's 7 PMO principles with the 8th overriding principle
PMO metaphors and the balance of leadership and management
Matching the PMO role to your personal leadership abilities
AIPMO's advice on PMO leadership

What is decision making?
Who makes decisions?
Types of decisions – programmed versus non-programmed decisions
Fact based decisions – the knowledge triangle
Leadership and decision making
Decision making in projects
Red flags in decision making
Risk of functional managers taking complex related decisions

What is a conflict and how to recognize it?
Sources of conflicts and prevention
Principles of dealing with conflicts
Conflict and negotiation
Conflicts in and across teams
Leadership aspects of conflict management
Conflict types between projects, programs, portfolios, and PMOs
Conflicts between the project world and operations world

Comparing the attributes of a physical, virtual, and hybrid environment
Traits of teams and what they mean
Virtual environment success factors
Decision making
Building trust
Culture
Performance monitoring
Automating updates
Motivation
Hints and tips to lead and create success

Case Study

Revision and Exam

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Testimonials

What Professionals Are Saying

It was immensely helpful to complete the IPMO-P and IPMO-E within three weeks while everything was still fresh in my mind. Massively beneficial. The case study was a standout element, bringing the concepts to life through practical application.

Robert Corbett

Global Director, PMO & Launch, DP World

The IPMO course was very useful and full of information. I am looking forward to implement this in my organization and will recommend it to my colleagues in the field.

Walid Taweli

Executive Manager, QooT

I will try to implement all the techniques and tools I have learned in the IPMO-P course. The case studies helped a lot in solving real life PMO challenges I had in my position.

Anthony Hallet

EPMO Consultanti, FocusHQ

An eye-opening IPMO-P course with excellent training by Robert. It helped me understand just how broad and impactful the PMO profession and its scope truly are.

Dr. David Hermida

Officer, AEW&C Mission Systems PMO, NATO

The CF course liberated my thinking on frameworks and their application in the business and research fields. It allowed me to contextualise business problems in different scenarios by trying options customised for the problem.

Wesley Bridgemohansingh

Project Management Consultant, Piaus and Associates Services Ltd

Thanks to the IPMO-P course, I now understand how to design, establish and evaluate the PMOs. Hopefully I will use all the knowledge gained in the PMO I am working currently. I am now better equipped to identify areas for improvement in my PMO.

Hussain Eid

Head of the Project Management Office, Wadi Jeddah

Get the official IPMO-P brochure

What You Get in the Brochure:

Full certification breakdown

Course dates, formats, & locations

Learning outcomes & benefits

Personalized course recommendations

Info about IPMO levels

Pricing & discount information

Frequently Asked Questions

You Ask, We Answer

What is the difference between Core, Specialist, and Master Class certifications?

Each of the certification categories serves a different purpose. The first category, “PMO Core Certifications,” shows that you have the competencies to design and build a service-orientated PMO with services that are needed by your project community. At the top-level (Expert) certification, you must show that you have the competencies to design and build one or more PMOs (called PMO topologies) within an integrated PMO Services topology. The second category of certifications is called the “Specialist” certifications because they directly relate to the ability to offer PMO services. If a PMO service is planned, then the PMO needs to have the capability to provide it. There are over 20 specialist courses at the time of writing. Project team members also need these courses. The third category of courses, called “Master Class” certifications, comprises three certifications that everyone needs, regardless of whether you are a PMO, project team member, or a PM/O director. These courses are the techniques and tools of a trade, so everyone, including project professionals, needs them.

What makes the Project and Team Leadership certification different from other leadership programs?

Unlike general leadership training, this course focuses specifically on project and team contexts. It blends leadership theory with practical application in areas such as conflict management, decision-making, and team performance—equipping you with competences that directly impact project success. What sets it apart is its emphasis on applying leadership skills in real-world project environments, including multicultural, virtual, and volatile contexts. The course also highlights the link between leadership and PMO effectiveness, ensuring that participants not only grow as leaders but also contribute to stronger organizational performance.

I don't know which certification is right for me. How do I choose?

For now, it is best to ask one of our professionals. You can either call or chat online. They can provide you with expert advice on planning and advancing your career.

Are there any discounts if I take more than one course?

The short answer is yes. Bundles are shown on the website, but you can also call to ask if you can get a special discount. This will also be considered if you join the course as a group.

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