From Pushback to Partnership: The Project Manager’s Guide to Influencing Through Communication
PMITLH March 2026 Lunch and Learn: From Pushback to Partnership: The Project Manager’s Guide to Influencing Through Communication
This Lunch and Learn will be on Wednesday, March 18, Noon EDT. This will be a virtual event. On the week before the event, all registrants will receive an invitation to the Zoom Meeting. By attending this event, you will earn 1 PDU.
From Pushback to Partnership: The Project Manager’s Guide to Influencing Through Communication Presented by Kandy Grant
Project success isn’t just about timelines, scope, and deliverables — it’s about people.
As project managers, we’re often navigating competing priorities, resistant stakeholders, unclear expectations, and high-stakes conversations that can either stall progress or propel it forward. This Lunch & Learn focuses on transforming communication from a reactive task into a strategic leadership tool.
In this session, participants will explore practical, real-world strategies to communicate with clarity, confidence, and purpose — even in challenging situations. You’ll learn how to engage stakeholders across roles, levels, and perspectives, shift resistance into collaboration, and turn passive approval into active partnership. By aligning your messaging with stakeholder priorities and project goals, you’ll reduce friction, strengthen trust, and move projects forward with greater buy-in at every stage.
🎯 Learning Objectives
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Analyze stakeholder communication needs and styles to intentionally adapt messaging for greater impact and understanding
- Craft clear, purpose-driven messages that align stakeholder priorities with project goals and outcomes
- Apply a practical framework for navigating difficult conversations and transforming resistance into collaboration
- Leverage reflection and feedback techniques to build trust-based stakeholder relationships that support long-term project success
Kandy Grant is an ALigner, leadership strategist, and master trainer with 30+ years of experience helping executives and workforce leaders communicate with purpose, lead with confidence, and drive results. With a focus on self awareness, engagement, and culture-building, she designs and delivers transformative development programs across the public and private sectors.
Kandy Grant is a leadership development facilitator and strategic communications trainer who specializes in designing and delivering practical, results-focused training that empowers leaders to communicate effectively, overcome internal barriers, and build high-performing, multi-generational teams. Kandy is known for ALigning leadership development with organizational goals to improve culture and engagement.
