PMI Belgium Blog

Why this note is for our partners

As we are coming to the end of the first 6 months with the board, and before everyone takes a well-deserved break, I want to acknowledge in this month’s Note of the President the partners of the PMI Belgium chapter leaders.

We all know the quote “behind every man is a great woman.” It is a figurative expression that suggests someone's individual achievement can be credited to the help they receive from a third party. It emphasizes the importance of supportive partners or collaborators in achieving success.

When Pierre, Giuseppe, Edi, Slim, Paolo, Gert, Tim, Baudouin, Geert, Piotr, Jana, Julija, and Christine stepped up to shape the chapter’s future, they knew it would challenge their work-life balance with a third element: volunteering. They had to learn PMI’s ways of working, collaborate as a team, and turn ideas into action.

This meant spending many evenings on PMI training, understanding their roles, and supporting fellow leaders. Over time, their focus expanded from family and work to include PMI—an adjustment that surely impacted their partners and home life.

A personal story: My “PMI” at home

Recalling the time I applied for President, I said to my “superman” Peter:
“When I apply for President, you understand that there will be evenings and weekends when I will be working for the chapter. Because applying for this function is not an achievement of life, it is a working function. It is a call for action, to continuously shape the future of the chapter.”

A smile comes up when I recall his answer:
“Project Management is your passion, leading people towards a new horizon is your mission. Building bridges and connecting with members is your energy. We will have quality time together, because I know that you need sometimes to step back, recharge your batteries. In that period, I’ll be there for you, as a listener to your worries, as a third opinion in your vision. I’ll stand there even if you want only silence. Because silence is your way in dealing with challenges, putting things into perspective, to turn threats into opportunity.”

At that moment, I knew that this PMI adventure would be totally different from all the other board positions I had in the past. Now, I have a backing team.

To all our supporting partners: thank you

I know that my chapter leaders have similar stories. All of them have a great partner, where they can turn to with complaints, with frustrations, but also with joyful stories and laughter.

Thank you for supporting your partner in this PMI adventure.
Thank you for listening, for encouraging them, for a shoulder to lean on, to cry on.
Thank you for your value to the team and to the chapter.

The power of acknowledgment

This is the power of acknowledgment—to partners and third parties who are behind the scenes, supporting the chapter.

Acknowledgment is much more than recognition. There is a difference between these terms:

• Recognition is appreciation for an action by a person
• Acknowledgment expresses appreciation for a person—for who they are

Why acknowledgment matters

Acknowledgment is something many deserve, but only a few receive. Yet, it has the power to make your organization—and everyone connected to it—happier, healthier, and more productive. When you recognize others sincerely, you build trust and foster meaningful interactions.

Look for opportunities to express how much you value the people around you. Share your heartfelt appreciation regularly—and watch the extraordinary happen. By acknowledging the very qualities you may envy in others, you open the door to deeper relationships and personal growth, gaining new respect for their contributions.

Acknowledgment is a powerful source of energy. Recognize great work wherever you see it, and people will respond with their best efforts, doing whatever it takes to succeed.

The impact of acknowledgment can be profound—it can change lives. It enhances both physical and emotional well-being. Acknowledging others has a similar uplifting effect—not just on them, but on you as well.

Practice acknowledgment in diverse and meaningful ways. Build a toolkit of approaches that allow you to connect with individuals in ways that resonate most deeply with them. Your consistent expression of gratitude creates the environment where acknowledgment can have its greatest impact.

Your turn: Who will you acknowledge?

With the summer holiday coming up, reflect on who you would like to acknowledge—because of something that person did for you, or a skill you envy in them.

👉 Share your story of acknowledgment in our PMI Belgium Chapter Group on LinkedIn so that others can feel the power of acknowledgment too.

 

With smiling greetings,

Anja Vandenbergh, PMP
President, PMI Belgium Chapter