Leading with purpose: Delivering projects that make a difference

With APM Conference happening this week, let’s look at how we can lead with purpose to deliver projects for a better future.

When projects go well, everyone wins. That’s one of the big reasons so many of us got into project management in the first place — the chance to make a real, positive impact on the world around us. But here’s the question: are we designing our projects just to deliver outputs, or are we aiming to leave a lasting legacy?

According to the National Audit Office’s 2024 report, Lessons Learned: Delivering Value from Government Investment in Major Projects, many project managers feel that government sponsors are more focused on ticking boxes — budget, schedule, business case — than on making sure projects actually deliver long-term value. Sound familiar?

Of course, staying on time and on budget matters. But those are just indicators of how efficiently we delivered — not whether the project was truly successful. Real success is about whether the outcomes justify the investment. And often, those outcomes don’t show up until long after we’ve handed over the shiny new building or IT system.

So, how do we keep our eyes on the bigger picture?

It starts with a mindset shift. Instead of focusing only on what we’re delivering, we need to think about why we’re delivering it — and who it’s for. When we start with the end in mind, we make better decisions, spot risks and opportunities earlier, and create more value for the people who’ll actually use what we build.

This approach also helps everyone — from sponsors to stakeholders — stay aligned and accountable. It creates a “golden thread” that runs through the whole programme, tying everything back to the outcomes we’re aiming for. And it opens the door to innovation and continuous improvement.

How to lead with purpose

Here are a few practical ways to bring this to life:

1. Kick things off with purpose

Run a mobilisation workshop with both the sponsor and delivery teams. Use it to:

Reconnect with the programme’s purpose and the impact it needs to have.
Identify early risks and opportunities that could affect long-term value and capture in an action plan for integration into project planning and delivery.
Build a Team Charter based on shared goals — not just “collaboration for collaboration’s sake.”

2. Keep the momentum going

Use your action plan and Team Charter to drive clarity and accountability throughout the programme. Support your team with coaching, upskilling and expert input where needed.

3. Measure what matters

Create a ‘Success Measures Framework’ that helps translate big-picture goals - like environmental and social impact — into tangible, trackable outcomes. This helps prove the value of your work and keeps the focus on what really matters.

Why it’s worth it

You create a legacy: Projects become more than just deliverables — they become meaningful.
Better conversations: Teams understand the impact of their choices.
Clear direction: Everyone knows what outcomes they’re aiming for.
Real accountability: Sponsors and communities live with the results — so let’s make them count.

Leading with purpose isn’t just a nice idea — it’s a smart investment. If we don’t start with the end in mind, we risk delivering projects that miss the mark. But when we focus on outcomes, we build trust, boost confidence and deliver real value to the people who matter most.