HBR On Leadership Why Most Projects Fail—and How to Achieve Better Outcomes
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Feb 18, 2026 
Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez, project management expert and author, explains why projects often fail and how to change that. He reframes projects as change work. He discusses prioritization, freeing top talent to focus, building volunteer-driven teams, and structuring organizations to own outcomes. Practical advice on sponsorship, methods, and shifting toward project-based roles is highlighted.
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Hospital Opened Early To Deliver Value
- A Brussels hospital opened two years before construction finished to deliver benefits sooner.
- This shows organizations can and should deliver incremental value before full completion.
Senior Leaders Must Sponsor Fewer Projects Deeply
- Senior leaders must actively sponsor and dedicate real time to top projects rather than delegating sponsorship.
- Limit sponsors' portfolio: fewer projects with deep engagement beats many projects with shallow oversight.
Choose Methods And Own Outcomes
- Match methods to project type instead of defaulting to a single approach like Agile for everything.
- Project managers must focus on outcomes and benefits, not just plans, schedules, and documentation.
