Phoebe Praline had always believed in processes. Processes were orderly. Processes were comforting. Processes did not surprise her, unlike children, big crowds, or most of her extended family. And certainly unlike the newest update to the PMP exam, which according to rumor now included “heavier leadership expectations.”
Phoebe found the whole thing unnecessary. “Leadership is an intangible concept,” she insisted. “You cannot put intangibles on an exam.”
Milo Merriweather, her well meaning coworker who possessed the gentle optimism of a golden retriever wearing a bow tie, disagreed in that perpetually hopeful way Milo always disagreed.
“But Phoebe,” he said as they walked past the glowing holiday display downtown, “leadership is real. It is as real as metrics and charters and budget baselines.”
Phoebe made a skeptical sound deep in her throat.
They had come to see Mrs. Maplethorpe, the retired project manager who volunteered each December at the city’s holiday booth. Some said she possessed uncommon wisdom. Others said she simply had enough life experience to out-stare even the most stubborn executives. Children gathered around her as if she were part storyteller, part oracle, part organizational-change consultant.
When Phoebe and Milo arrived, Mrs. Maplethorpe looked up from helping a child tie a bow on a giant cardboard reindeer.
“Come in out of the cold,” she said warmly. “You look troubled, my dear.”
Phoebe clasped her hands in front of her, posture stiff with dignity. “Mrs. Maplethorpe, is it true the PMP exam is shifting toward leadership behaviors? Heavily. Milo says they are testing things like communication intent and psychological safety and coaching the team.”
Mrs. Maplethorpe smiled the way someone smiles when they already know the ending to your problem.
“Yes, Phoebe,” she said. “Leadership IS real.”
Phoebe blinked. “But it cannot be measured.”
“Oh, but it can,” Mrs. Maplethorpe replied. “Just like kindness, or trust, or emotional intelligence. Leadership shows up in how people treat one another, especially when things get hard.”
Milo straightened proudly. “I told her.”
Mrs. Maplethorpe gestured toward a nearby bench, and the three of them sat. Holiday music drifted from the speakers overhead, and the smell of peppermint fudge traveled through the air.
“Let me tell you something,” she said. “The new exam puts more weight on the People domain because real projects hinge on these behaviors. Communication intent. Conflict management. Empowering the team. Psychological safety. Leading when there is uncertainty. These things matter.”
Phoebe pursed her lips. “I prefer facts.”
Mrs. Maplethorpe nodded. “Then here is a fact. No project succeeds without leadership.”
Phoebe considered this uncomfortable truth.
Milo leaned forward. “Mrs. Maplethorpe, do you think exam training should teach leadership?”
A twinkle lit the older woman’s eyes. “The right exam training teaches people how to think. How to process information quickly. It teaches calm. Clarity. Confidence. It teaches how to respond under pressure instead of panicking.”
Phoebe frowned thoughtfully. “Responding under pressure is… difficult.”
“It is,” Mrs. Maplethorpe agreed. “Real leadership comes from serving the people around you. Understanding what your team and the moment truly needs.” She nodded toward a woman at the counter. “Sometimes leadership begins with simply asking, ‘How can I help you right now?’”
Phoebe stared up at the holiday lights overhead, each bulb glowing softly. Something in her chest eased.
“So you are saying,” she began slowly, “that leadership is not magic.”
“No,” Mrs. Maplethorpe said with gentle humor. “It is practice. Intention. Awareness. And that,” she added, “is why the updated exam rewards the project manager who can lead with steadiness, not merely recall a list.”
Milo smiled. “Like building Transformational Intelligence.”
Mrs. Maplethorpe tapped his shoulder approvingly. “Exactly. Leadership is believing in possibilities when others doubt. It is trusting that a team can rise to the occasion. It is choosing clarity over fear. That,” she said warmly, “is what miracles are made of.”
Milo clapped his mittens. “So you will prepare for the new exam differently?”
Phoebe nodded with new resolve. “Lead on.”
Mrs. Maplethorpe softened. “As you prepare, remember these four things: choose the answer that helps the team, listen before you leap, find the real reason for conflict, and admit your mistakes. Do that, and leadership becomes much less frightening.”
Milo grinned. “Piece of cake. You already do most of this anyway.”
Phoebe blinked, processing. “I guess you really can put intangibles on an exam.”