Start, don't write!

I know... I have quite a strong opinion about portfolio management within public organizations 😅.  

Within the Public Prosecution Service, we have consciously chosen a specific approach and positioning. And guess what? I regularly get people visiting who want to get inspired . And to be honest - I really enjoy talking about my profession and how we approach portfolio management. 🎤     

✍️ Writing plans ≠ start

What I often see (and hear): 🌀 Public organizations that are busy writing a plan or policy memo about how portfolio management should work.

Of course – a solid professionalization process on paper is important. But honestly? Sometimes that planning gets completely stuck... 🔹 In too much detail 🔹 Or it becomes an unworkable policy monstrosity 🤯  

💡 My motto? Just start.

I believe in: 👉 Try – learn – adapt – try again. 

A lot of time is spent on flowcharts, process descriptions, gathering information.

But portfolio management for us is about: ➡️ The process before a project starts.  

And yes, even at the Public Prosecution Service it was not “perfectly arranged” in the beginning. Instead of focusing on what was not possible, I started with what was there . ✅ However incomplete.    

And from there? Step by step… 💪 Improved, adjusted, fine-tuned.

The first portfolio tables? Not an immediate success. But by continuing to try and adjust , we now have a workable model .  

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📌 4 practical tips from our own kitchen:

1️⃣ Create a weekly flow: Our rhythm is: 📅 Monday = Portfolio table 📄 Tuesday = processing pieces 🧠 Wednesday & Thursday = preparing for next week  

2️⃣ Think in 3 tracks: 🔹 Current year 🔹 Next year 🔹 Five years ahead  

3️⃣ Start early: Start the year ahead in January – not Q3 or Q4.    

4️⃣ Fine-tuning is key: The process is never “finished”. You can write a lot about how it should be, but in the end it is just a matter of: ➡️ Doing ➡️ Learning ➡️ Adjusting 

So... are you in doubt? 📣 Don't write - start!