Project Management

Background and Objective

After experiencing rapid growth, the Smith Institute for Industrial Mathematics & System Engineering saw many of its staff transition into management roles for the first time.

Individuals who were previously hands-on problem solvers were now tasked with directing the work of others, managing teams, and shifting their mindset from doing the work themselves to enabling others to succeed in project management.

The Smith Institute, having had positive experiences with Impact Factory in the past, including a Project Management course in 2017 and a Storytelling course in 2021, partnered with us again to design a one-day Project Management workshop.

The goal of the workshop was to help new and emerging leaders develop the skills, confidence, and tools necessary to navigate their transition successfully.

The focus was on equipping participants to:

Share responsibility with clarity and confidence
Motivate and engage their teams
Balance task, team, and individual priorities
Encourage ownership and collaboration across the organisation

Programme Overview

The training day, led by two facilitators, included group discussions, coaching exercises, models, and practical frameworks.

The environment was interactive, supportive, and hands-on, encouraging participants to practice new approaches right away and reflect on how to apply them in their daily work.

Key Elements

Exploring how delegation develops people, saves time, builds resilience, and strengthens trust
Identifying strategies for engaging, supporting, and challenging team members with different levels of motivation and skill
Clarifying the purpose of tasks to create ownership and motivation
Setting the ground rules and expectations upfront through effective questioning
Setting the ground rules and expectations upfront through effective questioning
Balancing priorities to build stronger, more cohesive teams
Using a practical tool to decide what to delegate and when
Applying the three C’s: Clarity, Connection, and Check-In

Key Content

Participants took part in a variety of interactive exercises and frameworks, including:

The GROW Model
Feedback Framework
Effective Questioning
Positive Feedback Structure
Underlying Message Exercise

Desired Outcomes

By the end of the programme, delegates left with:

A practical toolkit of models and strategies to delegate with clarity and confidence
An understanding of how to use delegation to build trust, resilience, and collaboration within teams
Coaching and questioning techniques to empower colleagues and encourage ownership
Greater awareness of how to balance task, team, and individual priorities to strengthen performance
Confidence in applying structured approaches that reduce drift, improve accountability, and support development