Free ebook for project leaders
The Leadership Contract for Project Managers
Step up, own the role, and deliver meaningful outcomes on every project.
On time, on scope and on budget still matter. But they’ve become the price of entry, not the measure of success. This 17-page ebook from New York Times bestselling author Dr. Vince Molinaro shows you how to lead the people, the politics and the change, not just the plan.
With a foreword by Pierre Le Manh, former President and CEO, Project Management Institute
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The job changed. Did anyone tell you?
Most project managers got the role because they were exceptional at something technical: engineering, software, finance, analysis. Then one day they were handed a strategic shift to deliver, with almost no support for the leadership side of the job.
Sound familiar?
- You’re leading a major system rollout, and three department heads are quietly building workarounds instead of adopting it.
- You’re running one of three major initiatives at once, with shared resources, contradictory deadlines and senior leaders who expect all three on schedule.
- You’re six months into a project where the CEO wants speed, the CFO wants cost control, and department heads keep changing the scope.
No methodology fixes these. Leadership does.
Only 50% of projects are seen as successful.
Source: Project Management Institute (PMI), 2025.
What you’ll get in the ebook
The four terms of The Leadership Contract®
Leadership is a decision, an obligation, hard work and a community. Learn what each one asks of you as a project leader.
The three levels of accountability
Individual, team and shared. See where your projects stall and what to do about it.
Questions to test yourself
Reflection questions you can apply to the project you’re leading right now.
A foreword from Pierre Le Manh
Why former PMI CEO Pierre Le Manh says leadership accountability is what will separate project professionals in the age of AI.
“Methodological fluency remains table stakes. Leadership accountability is the differentiator.”
As AI takes over status reports, scheduling and documentation, the project professionals who matter most will be the ones who can align people, make tough calls under uncertainty, and own the outcome.
Written for project leaders who are ready to lead
- Project and program managers who want to be seen as leaders, not just task managers
- PMO leaders building stronger leadership across their teams
- Technical experts who’ve stepped into project leadership roles
- Executives who sponsor major projects and need project leaders who own the outcome
About Dr. Vince Molinaro
Dr. Vince Molinaro is a New York Times bestselling author, strategic leadership advisor, speaker, and globally recognized expert on leadership accountability. As founder and CEO of Leadership Contract Inc. (LCI), he and his team have helped hundreds of organizations, from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies, build leaders who own the outcome.
Before founding LCI, Vince held senior executive roles at Knightsbridge Human Capital Solutions and LHH, where he led organizations through mergers, acquisitions and a global financial crisis.
His books include The Leadership Contract, Accountable Leaders and Community of Leaders. His seventh book, Leading Strategic Shifts, is out February 9, 2027.
Pre-order Leading Strategic Shifts →Building stronger project leaders across your organization?
We help organizations build leadership accountability in their project and delivery teams through The Accountable Manager™, The Leadership Contract® program, coaching and keynotes.
Questions about the ebook
How long is the ebook?
The ebook is 17 pages. You can read it in about 20 minutes, and use the reflection questions with your current project right away.
Is the ebook free?
Yes. Fill in the form and we’ll email it to you right away.
Who wrote the foreword?
Pierre Le Manh, former President and CEO of the Project Management Institute (PMI), wrote the foreword.
Can I share the ebook with my team?
Yes. Send your team this page so they can download their own copy.
Is this only for certified project managers?
No. The ebook is for anyone leading a project, whatever their title or certification. Leadership is a choice, not a title.
Leadership is a choice, not a title.
Learn how to own the whole role: technical, people and culture.