Podcasts about PMP

Premium This is a preview of our premium episode. Full access is available only to premium subscribers. Click here and learn about the Premium Podcast to access this interview... Play audio-only preview episode | Play on YouTube | Play on Spotify Episode Summary We welcome back Dawn Mahan and Jerry Manas for a project risk management conversation that connects movie moments with practical project leadership. Dawn and Jerry, co-editors of Projectland Goes to the Movies: 22 Blockbuster Strategies for Project Success, focus on the chapters they personally wrote and use them to examine how project managers identify early warning signs, assess uncertainty, choose risk responses, and handle the human side of risk. Jerry uses Star Wars to explain fast risk assessment, OODA loops, situational awareness, risk response planning, and the difference between risk as threat and risk as opportunity. Dawn uses The Italian Job to discuss trust, hidden resistance, team pressure, stakeholder behavior, sabotage, and what happens when a new person joins an already established team. Together, they make a practical point for project managers: risk management cannot live only in a register. It has to show up in conversations, sponsor alignment, team formation, stakeholder engagement, and regular project decisions.

“I'm not a writer, but you don't have to be a writer to create a really wonderful book.” – Christine Blosdale Today's featured international bestselling bookcaster is award-winning media personality and sought-after expert authority coach, Christine Blosdale. Christine and I had a fun on a bun chat about her books, conquering her imposter syndrome, the power of a small start, and more!!Key Things You'll Learn:What sparked Christine's early love for recording and broadcastingHow she helps clients overcome their fear of writingWhy it's easier than you think to produce an audiobookThree major lessons learned from starting, growing, and running her podcastsChristine's Site: https://www.christineblosdale.com/Christine's Books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B088C19Y6K/allbooksChristine's Podcasts: https://www.christineblosdale.com/mypodcastsThe opening track is titled, “Unknown From M.E. | Sonic Adventure 2 ~ City Pop Remix” by Iridium Beats. To listen to and download the full track, click the following link. https://www.patreon.com/posts/sonic-adventure-136084016 Please support today's podcast to keep this content coming! CashApp: $DomBrightmonDonate on PayPal: @DBrightmonBuy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dombrightmonGet Going North T-Shirts, Stickers, and More: https://www.teepublic.com/stores/dom-brightmonThe Going North Advancement Compass: https://a.co/d/bA9awotYou May Also Like…699 – “From His Brothers Basement to Hall of Fame Podcaster” with Dave Jackson (@DaveJackson): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-699-from-his-brothers-basement-to-hall-of-fame-podcaster-with-dave-jackson-davejackson/583 – “How to Be the Face of Your Business” with Tonya Eberhart (@brandfacestar): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-583-how-to-be-the-face-of-your-business-with-tonya-eberhart-brandfacestar/488.5 – “Create, Innovate & Dominate” with Tracy Hazzard (@hazzdesign): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-4885-create-innovate-dominate-with-tracy-hazzard-hazzdesign/681 – “Make Someone's Moment Through Podcasting” with Kelly Smith: https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-681-make-someones-moment-through-podcasting-with-kelly-smith/232 – “Podcast Power” with Heneka Watkis-Porter (@TheEntrepYou): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/232-podcast-power-with-heneka-watkis-porter-theentrepyou/400 – “How to Become a Multimillionaire, but Not Act Like It” with Tom Antion (@TomAntion): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-400-how-to-become-a/#Host2Host Bonus Ep. - “Innuendo City” with Michelle Nedelec (@michellenedelec): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/host2host-bonus-ep-innuendo-city-with-michelle-nedelec-michellenedelec/333 – “How to Grow Your Social Media Influence” with Catherine Saykaly-Stevens (@CatherineNetWeb): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-333-how-to-grow-your-social-media-influence-with-catherine-saykaly-stevens-catherinenetweb/86 - "Stepping Into the Spotlight" with Tsufit (@Tsufit): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/86-stepping-into-the-spotlight-with-tsufit-tsufit/384 – “Steal Your Skills From Corporate” with Katrina Roddy (@KRoddy65): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-384-steal-your/277 – “Entrepreneurs Rocket Fuel” with Kimberly Hobscheid (@EntrepreneursR4): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/277-entrepreneurs-rocket-fuel-with-kimberly-hobscheid-entrepreneursr4/348 – “Bring Inner Greatness Out” with Dr. Mansur Hasib, CISSP, PMP, CPHIMS (@mhasib): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-348-bring-inner-greatness-out-with-dr-mansur-hasib-cissp-pmp-cphims-mhasib/387 – “How to Demolish Imposter Syndrome & Create an Online Course” with Mark Kumar (@mark2kumar): https://www.goingnorthpodcast.com/ep-387-how-to/

AI is changing work fast enough to give every project manager emotional whiplash. New tools, new workflows, new expectations… and somehow you're still expected to hit deadlines, manage stakeholders, and explain for the fifth time why the project scope changed after leadership changed the entire business strategy. In this episode, Kim and Kate sit down with Kelly Heuer from Project Management Institute to talk about the skills that actually survive industry shifts, changing technology, and whatever shiny new buzzword LinkedIn is obsessed with this week. They unpack why "soft skills" are actually the hardest skills in project management, how business acumen separates strategic PMs from task trackers, and why learning to navigate ambiguity matters more now than memorizing formulas from the PMP exam. The conversation also dives into the uncomfortable reality that project success is rarely about perfectly following the original plan. Sometimes the real job is realizing the plan should change in the first place. Along the way, they cover durable vs. perishable skills, why varied career experience is secretly a superpower, how PMs can become more effective strategic partners, and why "say the thing" might be the most important career advice you'll hear all year. Grab a drink, question your project charter, and let's get into it. Guest Bio As Vice President of Learning at the Project Management Institute (PMI), Dr. Kelly Heuer brings over two decades of experience in higher education to lead PMI's Learning division. She oversees a global portfolio including professional standards, publications, live and enterprise training, and digital learning products that equip project professionals worldwide to drive project success. Kelly holds multiple degrees in philosophy, including an AB from Harvard and an MA and PhD from Georgetown University. She began her career at Georgetown, helping launch the university's first Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) in bioethics and co-founding its ethics and social innovation lab. She most recently served as Vice President of Learning Experience at edX, driving learning strategies and digital innovation across the company's portfolio. As the first in her family to pursue higher education, Kelly is passionate about mentoring first-generation students, coaching formerly incarcerated individuals, and supporting colleagues exploring alternative career paths. She lives in Brooklyn with her partner, Arjun, and their two children, chess enthusiast Kiran and aspiring explorer Ryan.

Deborah Kaminetzky, a certified (PMP, CSM, LSSGB) business leader provides Project Management consulting, technology implementation and Fractional COO services to start-up and established companies. Along the way we discuss – the Journey (1:30), People First Project Plan (5:30), Project Discovery (11:30), Project Success (14:15), Project Complexity (17:30), the Risk Register (19:15), and Deborah's Memo (27:00).  Access help for your project @  DeFacto PM, LLC This podcast is teamed with LukeLeaders1248, a nonprofit that provides scholarships for the children of military veterans. Help us sponsor 5 scholarships for 2026. Send a donation, large or small, through our website @ www.lukeleaders1248.com, PayPal, or Venmo @LukeLeaders1248.  Music intro and outro from the creative brilliance of Kenny Kilgore. Lowriders and Beautiful Rainy Day. 

Summary In this episode, Andy welcomes back Marcus Buckingham, bestselling author and researcher, to discuss his new book, Design Love In: How to Unleash the Most Powerful Force in Business. For 25 years, Marcus studied the most productive teams, loyal customers, and effective leaders in the world, and the word that kept appearing in his data was one he kept changing: love. Andy and Marcus explore what love actually means in a business context, including how leaders are really experience makers whether they know it or not. You will hear the remarkable story of Josh D'Amaro, the CEO of Disney, and what his leadership reveals about designing love into a team's daily experience. Marcus unpacks the five feelings that lead people to say they love working for a leader, starting with something counterintuitive: control. The conversation also covers tough love, AI's limits as an experience maker, and how these principles can transform how we lead our families too. If you're looking for a fresh, evidence-based look at what drives sustained high performance, this episode is for you! Sound Bites "I kept hearing that word (love) and shame on me, but I did keep changing it because I felt like it was a careless exaggeration of the word like or something." "Don't keep changing the word (love). The word's the word. The question really should be why and how do we replicate it?" "You're paid to change behavior. That's all you're paid to do. You're not paid to run a project. You're paid to change behavior as a leader." "When you send an email, it's not an email. It's an experience for the person on the other end. When you call that team meeting, it's not a team meeting. It's an experience." "You join a company and then you quit your boss." "Undesigned experiences lead to unpredictable outcomes." "It's cowardly, not loving. It's cowardly to leave them in that job." "I am for you. I am for you. That doesn't always mean that I am going to tell you what you wanna hear. It means I want you to flourish." "Loving's an ingredient, right? Loving isn't, 'Be nicer.' Loving's like, 'What are you trying to do for me?'" "The beginning of love is rules. The beginning of love is clarity." Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:48 Start of Interview 01:57 Why Marcus Spent Decades Avoiding the Word "Love" 05:47 Misconceptions About Love in Business 11:29 Inside the "Josh Effect" 18:02 What Great Leaders Don't Do 22:13 Local Leadership and Variation in Team Experience 27:54 When Senior Leaders Couldn't Say the Word 31:04 Applying the "Is This Loving or Unloving?" Lens 37:43 Tough Love and Difficult Performance Conversations 46:20 Practical Takeaways: The Five Feelings of Love 50:25 AI and the Role of Love in Leadership 56:34 Designing Love Into Parenting and Family 1:01:26 End of Interview 1:01:57 Andy Comments After the Interview 1:05:03 Outtakes Learn More You can learn more about Marcus and his work at BuckinghamInstitute.com. For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 252, which is our earlier interview with Marcus Buckingham. That book still impacts how Andy leads years after having Marcus on the first time. Episode 332 with Kevin Eikenberry and Wayne Turmel. A discussion about keeping your teams engaged and connected, even if they're not co-located. Episode 324 with Jim Harter. Jim is the Chief Scientist at Gallup and they have an insightful discussion about building resilient and thriving teams. Chat with PMeLa You can chat directly with PMeLa—the podcast's AI persona—to get episode recommendations and answers to your project management and leadership questions. Visit PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com/PMeLa to chat with her. Pass the PMP Exam If you or someone you know is thinking about getting PMP certified, we've put together a helpful guide called The 5 Best Resources to Help You Pass the PMP Exam on Your First Try. We've helped thousands of people earn their certification, and we'd love to help you too. It's totally free, and it's a great way to get a head start. Just go to 5BestResources.PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com to grab your copy. I'd love to help you get your PMP this year! Join Us for LEAD52 I know you want to be a more confident leader–that's why you listen to this podcast. LEAD52 is a global community of people like you who are committed to transforming their ability to lead and deliver. It's 52 weeks of leadership learning, delivered right to your inbox, taking less than 5 minutes a week. And it's all for free. Learn more and sign up at GetLEAD52.com. Thanks! Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Power Skills Topics: Leadership, Love in Business, Team Culture, Employee Engagement, Customer Experience, Project Management, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Parenting, Organizational Culture, Experience Design The following music was used for this episode: Music: Summer Morning Full Version by MusicLFiles License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Tuesday by Sascha Ende License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

In this solo episode of Even Better, Sinikka Waugh explores the experience of change saturation and what it feels like when too much change arrives all at once. Drawing on personal insight and coaching conversations, she reflects on how easily we can become overwhelmed, stretched thin, and disconnected from what matters most. Sinikka invites listeners to notice when that sense of saturation begins to take hold and to pause instead of pushing through. She encourages reconnecting with your inner circle as a source of support and perspective, and returning to your deeper why as an anchor in the midst of uncertainty. Through thoughtful reflection and practical encouragement, this episode offers a reset for anyone feeling the weight of constant change, helping listeners slow down, regain clarity, and move forward with greater intention and resilience.   -- Sinikka Waugh - Connect with me on either LinkedIn or send me an email! Founder, Owner, Trainer, and Coach Sinikka Waugh, PMP, President and CEO of Your Clear Next Step, spends her days helping people have better workdays. Trainer, coach, business leader, and difference maker, Sinikka is known for consistently helping people solve problems and get things done at work. With a 20+ year background in languages, literature, and project management, Sinikka has helped over 50,000 people have better workdays since 2008. Her clients value how her professionalism blends seamlessly with her down-to-earth, "try this now" approach and her passion for helping others. Sinikka holds a BA from Central College, an MA from the University of Iowa, and is a certified Project Management Professional through the Project Management Institute (PMI).

Play audio-only episode | Play on YouTube | Play on Spotify Episode Summary The PMP Exam Content Outline, often called the ECO, drives everything about the PMP exam, yet many students still focus almost entirely on the PMBOK Guide. In this episode, Cornelius Fichtner explains why the PMP exam is not a test of the PMBOK Guide and why the ECO serves as the real syllabus behind the certification exam. He walks through how PMI develops exam questions, how volunteers create and review questions based on the ECO, and how reference materials such as the PMBOK Guide support the process without directly defining the exam itself. Along the way, Cornelius breaks down the structure of the ECO into domains, tasks, and enablers, helping PMP candidates understand what PMI expects modern project managers to know in predictive, adaptive, and hybrid environments. He also explains why concepts such as value delivery, sustainability, compliance, and artificial intelligence now appear in the latest version of the exam. The discussion includes a practical walkthrough of the People, Process, and Business Environment domains, how exam percentages are distributed, and why PMI periodically updates the exam based on real-world project management practices.

In this episode, Ricardo explains that career growth in project management is not defined only by technical skills, certifications, or tools. Often, the most important moments are brief, unexpected interactions during crises or difficult conversations. In these situations, leaders observe who remains calm, simplifies chaos, communicates clearly, takes responsibility, and helps others make decisions. While technical competence is essential, trust, confidence, and leadership under pressure become the true differentiators as careers evolve. With artificial intelligence automating many technical tasks, human abilities such as judgment, communication, and decision-making in uncertain situations are becoming even more valuable. Sometimes, a career-changing moment may last only a few minutes. Listen to the podcast to learn more about!

Neste episódio, Ricardo explica que o crescimento na carreira de gestão de projetos não se define apenas por habilidades técnicas, certificações ou ferramentas. Muitas vezes, os momentos mais importantes são interações breves e inesperadas durante crises ou conversas difíceis. Nessas situações, os líderes observam quem mantém a calma, simplifica o caos, comunica-se com clareza, assume a responsabilidade e ajuda os outros a tomar decisões. Embora a competência técnica seja essencial, a confiança e a liderança sob pressão tornam-se os verdadeiros diferenciais à medida que as carreiras evoluem. Com a inteligência artificial automatizando muitas tarefas técnicas, habilidades humanas como julgamento, comunicação e tomada de decisão em situações incertas tornam-se ainda mais valiosas. Às vezes, um momento que pode mudar a carreira dura apenas alguns minutos. Escute o podcast pra saber mais!

Play audio-only episode | Play on YouTube | Play on Spotify Episode Summary Project managers often joke that their projects feel like a movie. In this conversation, that idea becomes the central theme as Cornelius Fichtner welcomes Dawn Mahan and Jerry Manas to discuss their book Projectland Goes to the Movies. Together, they examine how famous films reflect real project management challenges involving leadership, teamwork, risk, stakeholder management, planning, and adaptation under pressure. From Apollo 13 and The Martian to Jurassic Park, Twelve Angry Men, and Ocean's Eleven, the discussion highlights how storytelling creates memorable examples of project leadership in action. The guests explain why movies resonate so strongly with project managers, how fictional situations often mirror real workplace dynamics, and why stories stick with people more effectively than abstract theory. The conversation also connects several examples back to practical project management concepts such as servant leadership, agile adaptation, collaborative problem-solving, stakeholder influence, and the importance of remaining calm during uncertainty.

Summary In this episode, Andy welcomes back Steve Kahle, entrepreneur, executive, and fractional CIO, author of Leadership Recall: Harness Insights. Accelerate Innovation. LEAD WITH AUTHORITY. Steve first joined the podcast in episode 184 to discuss email overload. This time, the conversation turns to a challenge every leader faces: the forgetting curve. Research suggests we forget up to 83% of what we learn within a week, and Steve argues this is not just a learning problem, it's a leadership problem. Steve shares his CCR framework (Capture, Catalog, and Recall), along with practical tools such as the Anki flashcard app and the Email Me voice-note app, to build what he calls a learning operating system. The discussion covers how to design a recall fitness practice in as little as three minutes a day and how removing friction at every step keeps the system sustainable. If you're looking for a practical system to stop letting great insights slip away and start leading with more authority, this episode is for you! Sound Bites "I think God put in my heart to be a relentless optimizer. I like to see things work and work well." "When you really zoom out in life, those who are really successful have figured out what are the frameworks, what are the methodologies that work, and they simply apply those." "Our subconscious mind can handle about 11 million bits of data per second, but about 40 bits conscious mind." "I went all in. Christ totally transformed my heart, and I'm realizing that scripture memory is a superpower." "Time swiftly washes away the obvious." "Learning really is a privilege, and we need to be able to find time that works with our daily rhythms." "Three minutes a day is really all you need to be able to see tremendous traction on being able to recall things that matter" "Instead of 'I'm bad at remembering names,' you could, do a reframe like, 'Hey, I'm getting better at remembering people's names.'" Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:48 Start of Interview 02:06 Early Experiences and the Instinct to Remember 04:08 Is Memory a Natural Gift or a Trainable Skill? 05:19 Forgetting as a Feature, Not Just a Bug 07:10 The Leadership Cost of Forgetting 09:10 Shifting the Bottleneck from Input to Retention 12:02 The Five-Hour Rule and Three Learning Archetypes 14:19 The CCR Framework in Practice: Capture, Catalog, and Recall 19:50 Removing Friction from Your Learning System 23:23 Inside Anki: Cloze Deletions and Building Cards 26:10 Organizing Your Recall Decks 27:30 Real-World Results: When Readers Apply the System 28:56 Building Recall Habits in Your Kids 32:50 How to Get the Book 34:01 End of Interview 34:17 Andy Comments After the Interview 37:46 Outtakes Learn More You can learn more about Steve and his work at leadershiprecall.com. For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 184 with Steve Kahle. It's our previous conversation about keeping your head above water when drowning in email and commitments. Definitely recommend checking it out. Episode 411 with Laura Mae Martin. She's the head of productivity at Google and shares ideas that I still use to this day. Episode 376 with Nick Sonnenberg. It's a book about helping you and your team stop drowning in all the information and commitments at work. Chat with PMeLa You can chat directly with PMeLa—the podcast's AI persona—to get episode recommendations and answers to your project management and leadership questions. Visit PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com/PMeLa to chat with her. Pass the PMP Exam If you or someone you know is thinking about getting PMP certified, we've put together a helpful guide called The 5 Best Resources to Help You Pass the PMP Exam on Your First Try. We've helped thousands of people earn their certification, and we'd love to help you too. It's totally free, and it's a great way to get a head start. Just go to 5BestResources.PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com to grab your copy. I'd love to help you get your PMP this year! Join Us for LEAD52 I know you want to be a more confident leader–that's why you listen to this podcast. LEAD52 is a global community of people like you who are committed to transforming their ability to lead and deliver. It's 52 weeks of leadership learning, delivered right to your inbox, taking less than 5 minutes a week. And it's all for free. Learn more and sign up at GetLEAD52.com. Thanks! Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Power Skills Topics: Leadership, Memory, Learning, Productivity, Knowledge Management, Recall, Spaced Repetition, Personal Development, Continuous Learning, Networking, Project Management The following music was used for this episode: Music: Imagefilm 034 by Sascha Ende License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Tuesday by Sascha Ende License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Mukhtar Kadiri: When the Smartest Person on the Team Becomes the Biggest Bottleneck — And Explodes in a Meeting Read the full Show Notes and search through the world's largest audio library on Agile and Scrum directly on the Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast website: http://bit.ly/SMTP_ShowNotes.   "A lot of times, the problem is not necessarily technical. It's a human problem. Just figuring out the human dynamics removes the obstacles and makes the project flow." - Mukhtar Kadiri   Mukhtar was brought into a healthcare software project where the team couldn't hit any of their milestones. The product manager, engineering team, and head of engineering were supposed to be self-sustaining, but chaos reigned. What Mukhtar found through his one-on-ones was a pattern of finger-pointing — product blaming engineering, engineering blaming product. Then, in one meeting, the head of engineering exploded. He burst out yelling in front of the entire team. In a private conversation afterward, Mukhtar discovered the root cause: this brilliant architect was a bottleneck. Everyone depended on him, he was stretched across multiple projects, and the frustration had been building with no outlet. Mukhtar's approach was direct — "Your name is on this project. Yelling is not going to help." But the real insight came from what happened next. Once the head of engineering started controlling his outbursts, team morale improved almost immediately. Combined with basic structure — regular meetings, low-hanging-fruit milestones — the team built momentum and eventually became self-sufficient. The lesson? No matter how technical the challenge looks, it's always a people problem. And one-on-ones aren't just status updates — they're pressure valves that prevent public explosions that can cause irreparable damage to team morale.   Self-reflection Question: Is there someone on your team who's carrying too much load in silence — and what would it take for you to create a safe space where they can express that frustration before it boils over? Featured Book of the Week: HBR Project Management Handbook by Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez Mukhtar recommends the HBR Project Management Handbook because, as he puts it, "A lot of project management books, I can read them and it's almost like I'm not really learning anything new. But this one had substance." After stumbling into project management and leading projects for seven years before even pursuing his PMP, Mukhtar found that most PM books simply codified what he already knew from experience. The HBR handbook was different — it offered breadth, depth, and fresh approaches to common project management challenges. He also recommends the Rita Mulcahy PMP Exam Prep for those preparing for PMP certification, noting that studying for the exam crystallized frameworks around things he had been doing instinctively.   [The Scrum Master Toolbox Podcast Recommends]

Omari Richins, MPH of Public Health Careers podcast talks with Lydia Babcock, MA, MPH, PMP.Lydia uses participatory action research, ethnography, and mixed methods to help organizations identify root causes, close gaps, and design solutions that actually work for communities. Her work sits at the intersection of public health, medical anthropology, policy research, and community engagement, with experience spanning both domestic and global health settings - including serving as a Peace Corps Community Health Specialist in Malawi.Resume Workshop (May 24th): https://thephmillennial.com/workshops/

Organizations are still struggling to deliver what their customers want, when they want it, and the loudest question in delivery right now is whether agile and traditional project management are stronger together.Some Scrum practitioners are pursuing PMP certifications for the first time, traditional project managers are picking up the updated PMI-ACP, and the lines between Scrum Master and Project Manager have blurred in the marketplace.  Both disciplines bring real strengths. Forward thinking leaders are leaning into the blend instead of defending a camp.Most organizations are not picking sides anymore.  They are picking outcomes. The question is no longer "are we doing real Scrum" or "are we doing proper Project Management."  The question is whether your teams are delivering value, learning fast, and treating their customers like the heroes of the story.In this episode, we discuss:Why "Technical Project Manager" and "Scrum Master" have quietly become the same role on most job boardsHow the updated PMI-ACP is bridging traditional project management and agile leadershipThe hybrid skills organizations are hungry forThe leadership move that changes everything, regardless of title or framework

In this episode, Ricardo Vargas discusses "Watermelon Projects": projects that appear healthy on dashboards but face serious internal problems. He explains that often, indicators remain green for fear of exposing difficulties, disappointing sponsors, or suffering punishment in corporate cultures that associate problems with personal failure. Thus, delays, risks, and scope cuts end up being masked. Ricardo warns that the greatest danger is not a red project, but an artificially green one, as problems grow silently until they become critical. He emphasizes that dashboards reflect organizational behaviors and culture. For him, healthy projects are not those without problems, but those where the team feels safe to discuss difficulties early, transparently, and without fear. Listen to the podcast to learn more about!

Neste episódio, Ricardo fala sobre os “Watermelon Projects”: projetos que parecem saudáveis nos dashboards, mas enfrentam sérios problemas internamente. Ele explica que, muitas vezes, os indicadores permanecem verdes por medo de expor dificuldades, decepcionar patrocinadores ou sofrer punições em culturas corporativas que associam problemas ao fracasso pessoal. Assim, atrasos, riscos e cortes de escopo acabam sendo mascarados. Ricardo alerta que o maior perigo não é um projeto vermelho, mas sim um projeto artificialmente verde, pois os problemas crescem silenciosamente até se tornarem críticos. Ele destaca que dashboards refletem comportamentos e cultura organizacional. Para ele, projetos saudáveis não são os que não possuem problemas, mas aqueles onde a equipe tem segurança para discutir dificuldades cedo, com transparência e sem medo. Escute o podcast pra saber mais!

Summary In this episode, Andy welcomes Dr. John La Puma, a board-certified internal medicine physician, professionally trained chef, regenerative organic farmer, and two-time New York Times bestselling author of The Indoor Epidemic. Did you know most of us spend about 93% of our lives indoors? Dr. John makes the case, backed by more than 2,200 studies, that where we spend our time may matter just as much as the soft skills and productivity systems we so often focus on. In this conversation, Andy and Dr. John dig into what he calls digital obesity and analog wellness, the science of morning sunlight and circadian rhythm, why looking at the horizon for just one minute per hour can improve focus and eye health, and what forest bathing actually does to your immune system. They also explore loneliness as a health crisis, the social dimension of outdoor time, and practical ways to build a 17-minute daily nature habit that doesn't require moving to Santa Barbara. If you're looking for science-backed ways to boost your energy, focus, and long-term wellbeing, this episode is for you! Sound Bites "Digital obesity is when you consume more pixels than you can metabolize." "What people don't understand about this is that it's not a character flaw, that it's a biological mismatch." "People don't appreciate that nature is actually social, and that social part is good for you." "And loneliness is what? 15 cigarettes a day in mortality." "Nature works through your senses. You touch, you listen, you see, you smell, you taste." "You have a 56% higher function and number of natural killer cells because you are in the company of trees that are making these chemicals, alpha-pinene, D-limonene in citrus trees, many other trees, that improve your ability to kill tumor cells and kill virus infected cells." "But immersion in the forest means that you're immersing your senses in it, and the forest is, is the therapist, and the walk is the therapy." "Rest is actually self-preservation and capital investment." "Often you can upgrade the thinking in a room just by opening a window." "But you don't need a forest, and you don't need a park even. You just need a sky view." Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:56 Start of Interview 02:06 Background: Origins of the Indoor Epidemic 07:03 Digital Obesity and Analog Wellness 10:33 Dr. John's Morning Outdoor Routine 13:21 The Benefits of Looking at the Horizon 17:22 Experiencing Vastness and Awe 22:47 Forest Bathing: More Than Just a Walk 24:32 Walking Habits and Nature Recalibration 26:52 Loneliness and Outdoor Social Connection 30:04 Practical Tips for Parents 32:03 End of Interview 32:39 Andy Comments After the Interview 35:15 Outtakes Learn More You can learn more about Dr. John and his work at drjohnlapuma.com. For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 461 with Dr. Patricia Grabarek. We talk about why our typical approaches to wellness are missing the mark. Episode 421 with Dr. Bijoy John. He's a practicing sleep doctor and I think you'll find some practical ideas from our discussion. Episode 200 with Jeffrey Pfeffer. He's the author of a book entitled Dying for a Paycheck and I think you'll find his insights challenging enough to look at work differently. Chat with PMeLa You can chat directly with PMeLa—the podcast's AI persona—to get episode recommendations and answers to your project management and leadership questions. Visit PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com/PMeLa to chat with her. Level Up Your AI Skills Join other listeners from around the world who are taking our AI Made Simple course to prepare for an AI-infused future. Just go to ai.PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com. Thanks! Pass the PMP Exam If you or someone you know is thinking about getting PMP certified, we've put together a helpful guide called The 5 Best Resources to Help You Pass the PMP Exam on Your First Try. We've helped thousands of people earn their certification, and we'd love to help you too. It's totally free, and it's a great way to get a head start. Just go to 5BestResources.PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com to grab your copy. I'd love to help you get your PMP this year! Join Us for LEAD52 I know you want to be a more confident leader–that's why you listen to this podcast. LEAD52 is a global community of people like you who are committed to transforming their ability to lead and deliver. It's 52 weeks of leadership learning, delivered right to your inbox, taking less than 5 minutes a week. And it's all for free. Learn more and sign up at GetLEAD52.com. Thanks! Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Power Skills Topics: Nature, Digital Obesity, Analog Wellness, Productivity, Loneliness, Forest Bathing, Morning Sunlight, Wellbeing, Leadership, Sleep The following music was used for this episode: Music: On Point by Steven OBrien License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Energetic Drive Indie Rock by WinnieTheMoog License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

PMP is changing.

AI is loud right now, but the real question is quieter: how do we use it to create a better customer experience without losing the human at the center? From the floor of CXPA CX Leaders Advance, Jeannie Walters grabbed a few brilliant minds and asked one simple prompt: What's the one thing we should be thinking about for the future of CX?The answers go far beyond any single trend. From evolving skill sets and smarter measurement to human-centered design and change management, this episode brings together a range of perspectives on where CX is heading next.You'll hear insights on blending technical and human skills, capturing and acting on customer emotion, grounding strategy in real value, and ensuring teams can actually adopt the changes we design.If you're shaping experiences, building journeys, or leading CX transformation, this is a quick hit of perspective to help you focus on what matters most.Subscribe, share this with a CX leader on your team, and leave a review so more people can find the show.Episode Guests:Sasha Fard, MBA, CCXPDirector, Omnichannel Analytics, AssurantFollow Sasha on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sashafard/Heidi Taylor, PMP, CCXPSenior Global CX Project Manager, LenovoFollow Heidi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidimtaylor/Emma Winstead, CCXPCustomer Experience Business Partner, Delaware NorthFollow Emma on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-winstead-ccxp-90b815172/Nicole Aguilera, CCXPBusiness System Consultant III, Mutual of OmahaFollow Nicole on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicoleaguilera/Scott Lee Holloway, CCXPHead of Customer Experience, APS BankFollow Scott on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottleeholloway/Lauren WierCustomer Experience Business Partner, Delaware NorthFollow Lauren on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-wier-17448430/Resources Mentioned:Order your copy of Experience Is Everything -- experienceiseverythingbook.comLearn more about CXI Membership™ and apply -- CXIMembership.comExperience Investigators -- experienceinvestigators.comEnjoyed the show? Subscribe, share with your team, and leave a quick review to help others find us. Leave your review at ratethispodcast.com/xact.Want to ask a question? Visit askjeannie.vip to leave Jeannie a voicemail! (And don't forget to follow Jeannie Walters, CCXP, CSP on LinkedIn!)

The PMP® certification is evolving in 2026 with a major exam update. Bill Yates and Ren Love break down what these changes mean for project managers, from shifting success metrics toward value and outcomes to a stronger emphasis on strategy, AI, and sustainability. Hear about updated exam domains, new question formats, and practical exam tips.

In this episode, Dr. Sterling L. Carter. DPT, MS, CSCS, CST. President & CEO. Licensed Physical Therapist and Stephen Levi Carter, MBA, PMP, CEO & Co-Founder, Sterling Staffing Solutions, share insights from their book on building and scaling healthcare businesses. They discuss entrepreneurship, acquisitions, operational excellence, and how leaders can leverage people and AI to drive sustainable growth.

In this episode, Ricardo questions the effectiveness of traditional project planning tools, based on static plans. Although fundamental for decades, these plans quickly become obsolete in dynamic environments. He highlights that Artificial Intelligence transforms this scenario by allowing continuous forecasting and real-time adjustments, replacing fixed estimates with dynamic, data-driven analyses. With this, the focus shifts from following a plan to adapting to change. Current tools still lack this predictive intelligence, which can compromise their relevance. The role of the project manager also changes: from planner to critical and strategic analyst. Despite the benefits, there are risks, such as excessive reliance on AI and decisions based on inaccurate data. Listen to the podcast to learn more about!

Neste episódio, Ricardo questiona a eficácia das ferramentas tradicionais de planejamento de projetos, baseadas em planos estáticos. Embora tenham sido fundamentais por décadas, esses planos rapidamente se tornam obsoletos em ambientes dinâmicos. Ele destaca que a Inteligência Artificial transforma esse cenário ao permitir previsões contínuas e ajustes em tempo real, substituindo estimativas fixas por análises dinâmicas baseadas em dados. Com isso, o foco deixa de ser seguir um plano e passa a ser adaptar-se às mudanças. As ferramentas atuais ainda carecem dessa inteligência preditiva, o que pode comprometer sua relevância. O papel do gerente de projetos também muda: de planejador para analista crítico e estratégico. Apesar dos benefícios, há riscos, como dependência excessiva da IA e decisões baseadas em dados imprecisos. Escute o podcast para saber mais!

Premium This is a preview of our premium episode. Full access is available only to premium subscribers. Click here and learn about the Premium Podcast to access this interview... Play audio-only preview episode | Play on YouTube | Play on Spotify Episode Summary Projects rarely fall apart because people lack effort. More often, they struggle because teams move forward without a shared understanding of what they are actually trying to achieve. In this conversation, Cornelius Fichtner continues his discussion with Danielle Naomi McCier, Creative Operations leader and author of “Wrangling Chaos,” focusing on what happens after a project is already in motion. The discussion shifts from identifying why projects drift into confusion to understanding how project managers can actively restore clarity, guide decisions, and keep work moving forward in fast-paced environments such as creative agencies. Danielle shares practical techniques for clarifying objectives, aligning stakeholders, and ensuring that teams do not default into rework cycles caused by early misunderstandings. She emphasizes that project clarity is not a one-time activity but an ongoing responsibility that requires attention, communication, and structure throughout execution.

Laurie Matkowski, PMP, Planning Practice Lead at GFT, joins the ITE Talks Transportation podcast to explore the evolving world of transportation operations and TSMO. From managing everyday mobility to preparing for global mega-events like the FIFA World Cup, Laurie shares insights on the critical role of alignment, technology, and human decision-making in keeping systems running smoothly. The conversation also dives into the growing impact of AI, digital infrastructure, and data analytics, all while emphasizing the continued importance of collaboration and people in the process.

Laurie Matkowski, PMP, Planning Practice Lead at GFT, joins the ITE Talks Transportation podcast to explore the evolving world of transportation operations and TSMO. From managing everyday mobility to preparing for global mega-events like the FIFA World Cup, Laurie shares insights on the critical role of alignment, technology, and human decision-making in keeping systems running smoothly. The conversation also dives into the growing impact of AI, digital infrastructure, and data analytics, all while emphasizing the continued importance of collaboration and people in the process.

In this episode, Ricardo discusses KPIs (Key Performance Indicators). He explains that KPIs are essential metrics that support decision-making in projects, unlike general metrics that only report data. Effective KPIs help anticipate problems, expedite decisions, and align teams and stakeholders. Examples for schedule performance include the percentage of tasks completed on time, the planned versus scheduled duration, the SPI (Schedule Performance Index), and the average delay per delivery. For cost, the CPI (Cost Performance Index) and cost variance measure efficiency. Beyond schedule and cost, strategic KPIs are essential, such as rework rate, value delivered, adherence to the business plan, and stakeholder satisfaction, as projects can meet time and budget targets and still fail. Ricardo recommends using a few meaningful KPIs, tracking trends, updating them frequently, and avoiding superficial metrics that don't guide decisions. Tune in to the podcast to learn more!

Neste episódio, Ricardo fala sobre KPIs (Key Performance Indicators - Indicadores-Chave de Desempenho). Ele explica que os KPIs são métricas essenciais que apoiam a tomada de decisões em projetos, ao contrário das métricas gerais que apenas reportam dados. KPIs eficazes ajudam a antecipar problemas, agilizar decisões e alinhar equipes e stakeholders. Exemplos para desempenho de cronograma incluem a porcentagem de tarefas concluídas no prazo, a duração prevista versus a duração programada, o SPI (Índice de Desempenho do Cronograma) e o atraso médio por entrega. Para custo, o CPI (Índice de Desempenho de Custo) e a variação de custo medem a eficiência. Além de cronograma e custo, KPIs estratégicos são essenciais, como taxa de retrabalho, valor entregue, aderência ao plano de negócios e satisfação dos stakeholders, pois os projetos podem atingir as metas de tempo e orçamento e ainda assim falhar. Ricardo recomenda usar alguns KPIs significativos, acompanhar tendências, atualizá-los frequentemente e evitar métricas superficiais que não orientam as decisões. Escute o podcast para saber mais!

Hospitals are improving the health and well-being of communities through a care model that fosters collaboration between clinicians, patients and their support systems. Person- and Family-Centered Care (PFCC) — often referred to as Patient and Family Engagement (PFE) — is an approach to care delivery that has been shown to improve health outcomes, lower costs, enhance patient experience and boost overall staff satisfaction. In this episode of the MiCare Champion Cast, two members of the MHA Person & Family Engagement Advisory Council from MyMichigan Health and Michigan Medicine provide first-hand insight on the powerful impact of PFE. It also provides actionable ways for healthcare teams to implement PFE and uplift its value to hospital leadership. Guests include Michelle Brady, MSHAL, BSN, RN, CPXP, director, patient experience and relations, MyMichigan Health and Michele Mitchell, BS, MS, PMP, a nationally recognized patient advocate and breast cancer survivor. EPISODE REFERENCES: "Consumers' and health providers' views and perceptions of partnering to improve health services design, delivery and evaluation: a co‐produced qualitative evidence synthesis": Link: www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1…274.pub2/full Impact of Patient Engagement on Healthcare Outcomes: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5651621/ Mitchell (mmmitchell99@gmail.com) can be found below: www.linkedin.com/in/michele-mitchell-403361135/ www.instagram.com/mmmitchell8 www.youtube.com/@PatientEngagement-tn6yr

In this episode, Ricardo explains that rework is an invisible yet highly destructive problem in projects. Although organizations measure schedule, cost, and scope, they rarely monitor rework, the effort spent correcting already completed work. This lack of measurement obscures the project's true efficiency. Rework often stems from deeper problems, such as unclear requirements, misalignment among stakeholders, late decisions, or low initial quality. Its impact is significant: delays increase, costs rise, teams become exhausted, and client confidence decreases. Ricardo argues that rework should be treated as a key performance indicator, continuously monitored to assess the project's health. When measured, it drives better behaviors, improving quality, decision-making, and alignment. Ultimately, projects fail not only due to delays but also due to wasted effort, with rework being one of the main hidden factors contributing to this failure. Tune in to the podcast to learn more!

Neste episódio, Ricardo explica que o retrabalho é um problema invisível, porém altamente destrutivo, em projetos. Embora as organizações meçam cronograma, custo e escopo, raramente monitoram o retrabalho, o esforço gasto corrigindo o trabalho já concluído. Essa falta de mensuração oculta a verdadeira eficiência do projeto. O retrabalho frequentemente decorre de problemas mais profundos, como requisitos pouco claros, desalinhamento entre as partes interessadas, decisões tardias ou baixa qualidade inicial. Seu impacto é significativo: atrasos aumentam, custos sobem, as equipes ficam exaustas e a confiança do cliente diminui. Ricardo argumenta que o retrabalho deve ser tratado como um indicador-chave de desempenho, monitorado continuamente para avaliar a saúde do projeto. Quando mensurado, ele impulsiona melhores comportamentos, melhorando a qualidade, a tomada de decisões e o alinhamento. Em última análise, os projetos falham não apenas devido a atrasos, mas também devido ao desperdício de esforço, sendo o retrabalho um dos principais fatores ocultos que contribuem para esse fracasso. Ouça o episódio completo para saber mais!

Summary In this episode, Andy welcomes Rebecca Hinds, organizational behavior researcher and author of Your Best Meeting Ever. Rebecca brings a behavioral science lens to one of the most persistent pain points in modern work: meetings that multiply, linger, and drain rather than deliver. Andy and Rebecca explore the concept of meeting debt, and why reducing meeting volume often matters far more than optimizing agendas. They discuss why meetings have become status symbols and performance art, how a simple social contract makes it nearly impossible to decline an invite, and what meeting minimalism actually means (hint: it's not about ruthless efficiency). Rebecca shares practical ideas, like calendar cleanses, Return on Time Invested (ROTI) ratings, and unexpected guardrails, including the fascinating case of the 27-minute meeting. They also wrestle with AI's potential to either genuinely improve meeting culture or simply make expensive, inefficient meetings feel more productive. If you're looking for a research-backed, practical guide to finally taking back your calendar, this episode is for you! Sound Bites "Why do we cling to this practice that has largely remained unchanged for decades and decades, and yet we know, we're highly aware that it's highly inefficient and dysfunctional." "It's ironic and unfortunate that we now consider so many of these dysfunctional practices, so many of these tactics as business as usual." "We tend to associate visibility with value and presence with productivity. A packed calendar is a very clear indication that you are busy, you're important, and you have high status within the organization." "Meetings are the most important product in our entire organization, and yet also the least optimized." "Meeting debt is so bad that it's not worth it to tinker at the edges and try to optimize the meetings that already exist because fundamentally, many of them should not exist in the first place." "Return on Time Invested (ROTI) is a concept I learned from my colleague Elise Keith. It asks people to rate the effectiveness of a meeting on a scale of zero to five based on whether this meeting was well worth it in terms of the time invested." "I don't mean efficiency for efficiency's sake, right? The goal isn't to make our meetings ruthlessly efficient at all costs." "He was tasked with running these 30-minute meetings. He was seeing them drag on and on rather than make the meeting longer, he made them exactly 27 minutes, and that jolted people out of autopilot." "What we're seeing in meetings overwhelmingly is people using AI to cognitively offload the work that they should be doing as humans." "I continue to believe there's nothing that communicates your leadership more clearly than being able to run a good meeting, but also being able to steer a bad meeting back on track because people very quickly make the cognitive jump that if you can lead a meeting, if you can lead a meeting back on track, you can probably lead a team, you can probably lead a project, you can maybe lead a function." "And the reverse is also true. If you can't lead a good meeting, it doesn't instill a whole lot of confidence in your ability to lead anything bigger." Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:27 Start of Interview 01:36 Rebecca's Background and Journey 02:51 The Meeting Sabotage Manual 04:38 Meetings as Status Symbols and Performance Art 07:30 Meeting Debt: Why Reducing Volume Comes First 10:12 Calendar Cleanses: Wiping the Slate Clean 11:28 Guardrails Against Meeting Bloat 14:30 Better Meeting Metrics: Return on Time Invested 17:34 Meeting Minimalism: What It Really Means 18:43 Minimalism in Practice 21:30 AI and Meeting Culture 27:50 Changing Meeting Culture Without Full Authority 32:06 End of Interview 32:39 Andy Comments After the Interview 35:34 Outtakes Learn More You can learn more about Rebecca and her work at RebeccaHinds.com. For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 503 with Evan Unger. Evan shares some helpful ideas on leading better decision-making meetings. Episode 246 with Steven Rogelberg. Steven is a leading meeting researcher whose work also appears in Rebecca's book. Episode 72 with Steven Rogelberg. An earlier conversation with this leading meeting researcher. Episode 245 with Elise Keith. Elise shares some practical insights on how to make meetings more effective. Chat with PMeLa You can chat directly with PMeLa—the podcast's AI persona—to get episode recommendations and answers to your project management and leadership questions. Visit PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com/PMeLa to chat with her. Pass the PMP Exam If you or someone you know is thinking about getting PMP certified, we've put together a helpful guide called The 5 Best Resources to Help You Pass the PMP Exam on Your First Try. We've helped thousands of people earn their certification, and we'd love to help you too. It's totally free, and it's a great way to get a head start. Just go to 5BestResources.PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com to grab your copy. I'd love to help you get your PMP this year! Join Us for LEAD52 I know you want to be a more confident leader–that's why you listen to this podcast. LEAD52 is a global community of people like you who are committed to transforming their ability to lead and deliver. It's 52 weeks of leadership learning, delivered right to your inbox, taking less than 5 minutes a week. And it's all for free. Learn more and sign up at GetLEAD52.com. Thanks! Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Power Skills Topics: Meeting Culture, Meeting Debt, Meeting Facilitation, Return on Time Invested, Organizational Behavior, Leadership, Project Management, Behavioral Science, Meeting Minimalism, AI and Meetings, Team Productivity The following music was used for this episode: Music: Brooklyn Nights by Tim Kulig License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Fashion Corporate by Frank Schroeter License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

In this episode, Ricardo discusses how artificial intelligence is transforming project management by moving beyond being just a tool and becoming an active agent in decision-making and execution. He highlights the emergence of new, unpredictable, and difficult-to-control risks that can arise from the interaction between systems. He also emphasizes concerns about manipulation and cybersecurity, since AI can both protect and attack. This scenario challenges traditional risk management practices. In response, he suggests continuous monitoring, controls focused on detection and rapid response, and reinforcing human responsibility. Despite the benefits, understanding these new risks has become essential. Tune in to the podcast to learn more!

Neste episódio, Ricardo aborda como a inteligência artificial está transformando o gerenciamento de projetos ao deixar de ser apenas uma ferramenta e passar a atuar como agente ativo nas decisões e na execução. Ele destaca o surgimento de riscos emergentes, imprevisíveis e difíceis de controlar, que podem surgir da interação entre sistemas. Também enfatiza preocupações com manipulação e cibersegurança, já que a IA pode tanto proteger quanto atacar. Esse cenário desafia práticas tradicionais de gestão de riscos. Como resposta, ele sugere monitoramento contínuo, controles focados em detecção e resposta rápida e o reforço da responsabilidade humana. Apesar dos benefícios, compreender esses novos riscos tornou-se essencial. Ouça o episódio completo para saber mais!

Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Ashley Herd, HR and legal leader turned management coach, and author of The Manager Method. Ashley has led HR and legal teams at organizations like McKinsey and Yum Brands, and she brings a refreshingly real-talk approach to the challenges every manager faces, especially those quiet moments of self-doubt that come with growing responsibility. In this conversation, you'll hear Ashley's take on why imposter feelings are so common among thoughtful leaders, and how her concept of the "career quilt" reframes even the most uncomfortable professional experiences. She introduces her simple but powerful Pause, Consider, Act framework, which is a practical tool for navigating tough management moments without reacting on instinct. You'll also hear how the language we use about people shapes the way we lead them, why delegation is harder than it looks, and how accountability can be reframed as a positive force on your team. Ashley even shares how Pause, Consider, Act has made her a better parent. If you're looking for a grounded, practical guide to leading people well (without burning yourself out) this episode is for you! Sound Bites "We all have our career quilts. And sometimes those are different, like different jobs, actual different experiences like that." "I felt very much like the other at McKinsey." "When you open up and show that you are real, you tend to gain the trust and respect that you're so afraid you'll lose if you do that." "People don't care that you know the message. They want to hear the message for themselves." "What would I want to have happen to me if I were in the other person's shoes?" "A rolling stone gathers stress, not moss." "Just thinking about the people that are doing a lot of the work, how you treat them and talk with and about them? That can shape a lot of the outcomes." "Tasks can quietly become symbols of our value." "When you treat your people well, they are a better parent, friend, relative." Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:17 Start of Interview 02:45 What's A Leadership Experience That Shaped You? 05:27 The Career Quilt Concept 07:47 Imposter Phenomenon in Leadership 11:45 Spotlight Effect and How We Worry About Being Watched 14:10 Introducing Pause, Consider, Act 15:05 What Pausing Actually Looks Like 21:30 Empathy Without Carrying Too Much 23:47 Rethinking Empathy 25:40 How Language Shapes How We Lead People 28:52 The Delegation Trap 30:33 What Ashley Still Struggles to Delegate 33:15 Reframing Accountability 38:10 Applying the Book Outside of Work 39:43 End of Interview 40:22 Andy Comments After the Interview 43:20 Outtakes Learn More You can learn more about Ashley and her work at ManagerMethod.com. For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 468 with James Turk. It's a discussion about what to do during the first 45 days when you take on new responsibility. Episode 467 with Sabina Nawaz. She was a coach to Microsoft leaders, such as Bill Gates, and she shares insights that, according to her, no one tells you about becoming a boss. Episode 142 with Amy Cuddy. Amy is most famous for her TED Talk on power posing. But episode 142 is more about presence and how you can more confidently rise to the most daunting challenges. It's a nice follow-up to what Ashley talked about with the imposter phenomenon. Chat with PMeLa You can chat directly with PMeLa—the podcast's AI persona—to get episode recommendations and answers to your project management and leadership questions. Visit PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com/PMeLa to chat with her. Level Up Your AI Skills Join other listeners from around the world who are taking our AI Made Simple course to prepare for an AI-infused future. Just go to ai.PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com. Thanks! Pass the PMP Exam If you or someone you know is thinking about getting PMP certified, we've put together a helpful guide called The 5 Best Resources to Help You Pass the PMP Exam on Your First Try. We've helped thousands of people earn their certification, and we'd love to help you too. It's totally free, and it's a great way to get a head start. Just go to 5BestResources.PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com to grab your copy. I'd love to help you get your PMP this year! Join Us for LEAD52 I know you want to be a more confident leader–that's why you listen to this podcast. LEAD52 is a global community of people like you who are committed to transforming their ability to lead and deliver. It's 52 weeks of leadership learning, delivered right to your inbox, taking less than 5 minutes a week. And it's all for free. Learn more and sign up at GetLEAD52.com. Thanks! Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Power Skills Topics: Leadership, Management, Imposter Phenomenon, Delegation, Accountability, Empathy, Team Culture, Communication, Self-Awareness, New Managers, Personal Growth, Psychological Safety The following music was used for this episode: Music: Underground Shadows by MusicLFiles License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Tuesday by Sascha Ende License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

In this episode, Ricardo discusses anxiety in project management, a subtle yet pervasive risk that undermines performance. Constant urgency creates pressure-driven cultures in which clarity fades, and teams react rather than think. Under anxiety, decision quality declines: people choose speed over sound judgment, avoid difficult conversations, hesitate to escalate issues, and mistake activity for real progress. Overwhelm also causes risk blindness, with warning signs ignored and problems delayed. Organizations often respond by increasing control through more meetings and reporting, which only intensifies the cycle. To address this, leaders must acknowledge anxiety as systemic, slow down critical decisions, and foster psychological safety so issues surface early. Ultimately, projects depend on people, and sustained pressure leads to poorer outcomes and reduces long-term value and well-being. Tune in to the podcast to learn more!

Neste episódio, Ricardo discute a ansiedade na gestão de projetos, um risco sutil, porém generalizado, que prejudica o desempenho. A urgência constante cria culturas orientadas pela pressão, nas quais a clareza se perde e as equipes reagem em vez de pensar. Sob ansiedade, a qualidade das decisões diminui: as pessoas priorizam a velocidade em detrimento do bom senso, evitam conversas difíceis, hesitam em escalar problemas e confundem atividade com progresso real. A sobrecarga também causa cegueira ao risco, com sinais de alerta ignorados e problemas adiados. As organizações frequentemente respondem aumentando o controle por meio de mais reuniões e relatórios, o que apenas intensifica o ciclo. Para lidar com isso, os líderes devem reconhecer a ansiedade como sistêmica, desacelerar as decisões críticas e promover a segurança psicológica para que os problemas venham à tona precocemente. Em última análise, os projetos dependem das pessoas, e a pressão constante leva a resultados piores e reduz o valor e o bem-estar a longo prazo. Ouça o episódio completo para saber mais!

Play audio-only episode | Play on YouTube | Play on Spotify Episode Summary Danielle Naomi McCier joins the discussion to explain how project managers can create clarity in environments where priorities shift, feedback comes from multiple directions, and teams struggle to stay aligned. The conversation highlights how projects rarely begin in chaos but gradually lose clarity as expectations evolve and communication becomes fragmented. Danielle explains that what many teams interpret as planning issues are often clarity problems rooted in misalignment, unclear ownership, and inconsistent communication. She shares practical ways to identify these issues early and outlines how project managers can act as the central point of alignment, helping teams move forward with confidence even when conditions change.

Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Amy Leneker, leadership coach, joy strategist, and author of Cheers to Monday. Amy's journey began with a burnout so severe that her doctor put her on medical leave. It took 10 words on a medical form to change everything: "What are your hobbies? What do you do for fun?" She couldn't answer it. That moment sent her on a mission to help leaders recognize stress earlier and respond to it far more intentionally. In this conversation, Amy shares the stress stories many leaders carry without ever questioning them, and why those stories get quietly rewarded in so many organizations. You'll hear how the body whispers warnings long before burnout hits, why most common stress-relief advice actually makes things worse, and how Amy's three-step Un-Stressing Method gives leaders a clear, practical framework to move forward. She also shares a powerful real-world example of a team carrying 73 stressors that simply didn't need to be there—and what happened when they finally saw that. If you're looking for a practical, empowering guide to break the cycle of stress and overwhelm in leadership, this episode is for you! Sound Bites "The story that I inherited, either intentionally or unintentionally, was you just work hard because that's the only choice you have." "I think one of the biggest mistakes that I made was not recognizing how much choice I had." "I couldn't remember the last time that I had real fun." "Those unhealthy stress stories are rewarded." "The majority of ways that we try to manage stress at work actually increase our stress." "When I ignored the whispers, it got to the point where ignoring it was no longer an option.... If you ignore them long enough, then the body's going to scream." "Talking about stress is stressful, but we've got to be able to see it if we're going to be able to do anything about it." "Unclear expectations are resentments waiting to happen." "People pleasing—it's not a healthy dynamic. It's not something that serves you or the people around you." "Stress is contagious. There is no question about it." "Yes, stress is wildly contagious, but so is joy." Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:39 Start of Interview 01:52 Early Messages About Work and Stress 04:36 The 10 Words That Changed Everything 06:39 Postponing Joy 07:30 Stress Stories Leaders Believe 08:19 How the Body Signals Burnout Before the Brain Does 11:44 What's Broken About Typical Stress Advice 12:58 Walking Through the Un-Stressing Method 15:03 Why Sequence Matters: See, Sort, Solve 17:32 Solving Stress vs. Fixing It 18:44 The Un-Stressing Method in Action: A Team Story 21:58 The Danger of Unstated Priorities 22:42 People Pleasing as a Warning Sign 23:38 Breaking the Cycle of Stress as a Parent 24:41 End of Interview 25:11 Andy Comments After the Interview 28:16 Outtakes Learn More You can learn more about Amy and her work at AmyLeneker.com. For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 448 with Marie-Helene Pelletier. It's a book on how to develop resilience when demands are piling up. It's a great follow-up to today's discussion. Episode 398 with Dr. Neha Sangwan, which is a book about learning to recognize wake up calls to help us avoid burnout. Episode 164 with stress researcher Derek Roger. Derek brings a unique perspective to the discussion about stress. Chat with PMeLa You can chat directly with PMeLa—the podcast's AI persona—to get episode recommendations and answers to your project management and leadership questions. Visit PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com/PMeLa to chat with her. Pass the PMP Exam If you or someone you know is thinking about getting PMP certified, we've put together a helpful guide called The 5 Best Resources to Help You Pass the PMP Exam on Your First Try. We've helped thousands of people earn their certification, and we'd love to help you too. It's totally free, and it's a great way to get a head start. Just go to 5BestResources.PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com to grab your copy. I'd love to help you get your PMP this year! Join Us for LEAD52 I know you want to be a more confident leader–that's why you listen to this podcast. LEAD52 is a global community of people like you who are committed to transforming their ability to lead and deliver. It's 52 weeks of leadership learning, delivered right to your inbox, taking less than 5 minutes a week. And it's all for free. Learn more and sign up at GetLEAD52.com. Thanks! Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Power Skills Topics: Stress Management, Leadership, Burnout Prevention, Wellbeing, Resilience, Team Culture, People Pleasing, Priority Setting, Workplace Conflict, Joy, Self-Awareness, Communication The following music was used for this episode: Music: Tropical Vibe by WinnieTheMoog License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Summer Morning Full Version by MusicLFiles License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

In this episode, Ricardo discusses the growing use of AI agents in projects and highlights an essential point: decisions can be automated, but responsibility remains human. Tools such as collaborative platforms and automation engines already perform tasks, prioritize activities, and interact with stakeholders autonomously. Despite their efficiency, there is an illusion that responsibility can also be transferred to AI, which is not true. In case of error, the responsibility falls on whoever designed the system. Thus, the manager's role evolves, it goes from simply executing to designing decision-making systems, defining limits, and validating logic. The recommendation is clear: automate tasks, support decisions, but never delegate responsibility. Tune in to the podcast to learn more!

Neste episódio, Ricardo aborda o crescente uso de agentes de IA nos projetos e destaca um ponto essencial: decisões podem ser automatizadas, mas a responsabilidade continua sendo humana. Ferramentas como plataformas colaborativas e motores de automação já executam tarefas, priorizam atividades e interagem com stakeholders de forma autônoma. Apesar da eficiência, surge a ilusão de que a responsabilidade também pode ser transferida à IA, o que não é verdade. Em caso de erro, a responsabilidade recai sobre quem projetou o sistema. Assim, o papel do gestor evolui, deixa de apenas executar e passa a desenhar sistemas de decisão, definir limites e validar lógicas. A recomendação é clara: automatize tarefas, apoie decisões, mas nunca delegue a responsabilidade. Ouça o episódio completo para saber mais!

Host Polly Swingle is joined by team members of the Concentrated Stroke Rehab Program (CSR) to talk about the evolution and effectiveness of the program over the last few years.Elise Thompson, MSOT, OTRL, is an occupational therapist that graduated from Grand Valley State University with a Master's of Occupational Therapy. Soon after graduating, Elise started with TRP and has been here for a year and a half. She has taken part in both the PMP and CSR program in the Livonia clinic. She is passionate about helping individuals with neurological conditions return to what they love doing most.Dr. Kayla Diebold, PT, DPT, CSRS is a Lead Physical Therapist and the Site Coordinator of Clinical Education at The Recovery Project.  She has specialized in the treatment of neurological diseases and disorders since 2017 with special interest in Parkinson's Disease, Stroke, and Vestibular disorders.  She is a Certified Stroke Rehab Specialist and heads the medical programming group for stroke at The Recovery Project. Kayla also has certifications in PWR! and Rock Steady Boxing for the management of Parkinson's Disease. She is a guest lecturer in the Physical Therapist Assistant program at Macomb Community College and frequently presents on topics involving physical therapy management of neurological diseases and disorders across the continuum of care.Learn more about The Recovery Project!View our website at www.therecoveryproject.netCall us 855-877-1944 to become a patientFollow us on InstagramLike us on FacebookThanks for listening! 

Summary In this episode, Andy sits down with Evan Unger, a consultant and trainer who has spent more than 30 years helping leaders facilitate collaborative decision making across projects, programs, and organizations around the world. Evan's work focuses on helping groups move forward when opinions differ, tension is present, and time is limited. This conversation is packed with immediately actionable ideas. Andy and Evan dig into why even experienced leaders struggle in high-stakes meetings, and how Evan's POPRA model (Purpose, Objectives, Process, Roles, Agreements) can transform the way you prepare and run them. They talk about how to manage the "HIPPO" (Highest Paid Person's Opinion) without suppressing the voices you most need to hear, a simple virtual technique called the simultaneous chat that can change the dynamic of any online meeting, and how to make sure your meetings actually land, with clear action items and time to close things out properly. Evan also shares his perspective on where AI fits in the future of facilitation, and some surprisingly personal advice about what he'd tell his younger self. If you're looking for practical, immediately usable tools to run better meetings and lead more collaborative decisions, this episode is for you! Sound Bites "On a scale of zero to a hundred percent, how effective are the meetings you attend? On average, and I can't tell you most of the time I get a number below 60% and often much lower." "My confusion as a leader, as a project manager, is immediately the confusion of the group because the group goes to where I'm at. And if I'm confused, welcome to what's about to happen in your meeting: Confusion, Chaos, Dysfunction." "The other extreme, and this is truly the art of leadership, is even though I have strong opinions as the project manager, I remain completely neutral, but I'm an expert in process, an expert in how I get other experts to come together, collaborate, make decisions, get 'em to buy in." "If I'm the HIPPO and I run the meeting as the expert, I will suppress conversation. People will not tell me what I need to know to make the decision, and I'm going to sub-optimize decisions, and I'm not going get people to buy in." "So the art of leadership is knowing how to start and work from the right side of the continuum where I'm an expert in the process of getting others to collaborate and asking questions to elicit their thinking." "If I'm not hearing from people as the facilitator of the collaborative conversation, that is a first sign that something's gone awry and I need to know how to hold space." "The meeting's purpose and objectives, that's the first tether, the first anchor. If that's not clear, there is no tool or technique that is going to save me." "Time is fuel. And we have limited fuel in the plane flight. When time is running out, we don't go knock on the cockpit and say to the pilot, fly faster." "People say to me, 'Evan, I've got Copilot now. I got these AIs doing all the monitoring and tracking'. It's like, yeah, great, but you can't trust what it said. You still have to come back and say, 'Do we all agree what we decided and where we go from here?'" "The five points were: 1, learn Spanish and become fluent in Spanish. 2, become fluent in Mandarin. 3, make sure you get a hard sciences or engineering degree when you go to school. Do it. Take all the liberal arts courses you want, but have something that people actually want. 4, go do a 10-day silent meditation as soon as you get out of school. And 5, take a backpack when you get out of school. Travel the world for a year.... That list is now down to two points." "The plan is now to find something that can't be AI'd out of existence." "But really, the art of being a good coach, a good consultant, a good parent, a good manager is querying the people to help them figure out their own answer." Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:44 Start of Interview 02:00 Evan's Background and Work 03:13 Why Meetings Fail — The Plane Metaphor 05:07 Preparing for High-Stakes Meetings: The POPRA Model 07:48 Distinguishing Purpose from Objectives 08:39 Facilitating Without Formal Authority 11:43 Spotting Meeting Drift 12:58 Balancing Dominant and Quiet Voices 16:12 Face-to-Face Facilitation Techniques 17:22 Handling Challenging Participants 21:17 Ensuring Meetings Land: Follow-Up Habits 23:59 AI and the Future of Facilitation 32:25 Advice to Younger Self 34:37 How These Skills Apply to Life 36:03 End of Interview 36:29 Andy Comments After the Interview 41:22 Outtakes Learn More You can learn more about Evan and his work at terischwartzassociates.com. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn. For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 413 with Rich Malman and Jim Stewart. They talk about what they call meeting goblins and how to deal with them. It's a very project management-specific take on running better project meetings. Episode 246 with Steven Rogelberg. Steven is a meeting researcher, but a really practical guy, and he shares great ideas about running more effective meetings. Episode 72 with Steven Rogelberg. An earlier conversation with Steven that is still packed with practical ideas on making meetings work. Episode 245 with Elise Keith. Elise is a meeting researcher who shares so many practical ideas on how to make meetings more effective—ideas Andy still calls back to years later. Chat with PMeLa You can chat directly with PMeLa—the podcast's AI persona—to get episode recommendations and answers to your project management and leadership questions. Visit PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com/PMeLa to chat with her. Pass the PMP Exam If you or someone you know is thinking about getting PMP certified, we've put together a helpful guide called The 5 Best Resources to Help You Pass the PMP Exam on Your First Try. We've helped thousands of people earn their certification, and we'd love to help you too. It's totally free, and it's a great way to get a head start. Just go to 5BestResources.PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com to grab your copy. I'd love to help you get your PMP this year! Join Us for LEAD52 I know you want to be a more confident leader–that's why you listen to this podcast. LEAD52 is a global community of people like you who are committed to transforming their ability to lead and deliver. It's 52 weeks of leadership learning, delivered right to your inbox, taking less than 5 minutes a week. And it's all for free. Learn more and sign up at GetLEAD52.com. Thanks! Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Power Skills Topics: Meeting Facilitation, Collaborative Leadership, Decision Making, HIPPO Effect, Virtual Meetings, Meeting Preparation, Time Management, AI, Project Management, Change Management, Communication, Facilitation Tools The following music was used for this episode: Music: Ignotus by Agnese Valmaggia License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Fashion Corporate by Frank Schroeter License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

In this episode, host Etienne Nichols speaks directly to professionals in industries like automotive, aerospace, and manufacturing who are looking to transition into MedTech. Drawing from his own experience moving from aerospace to medical devices, Etienne demystifies the industry's high barriers to entry and explains why your existing skills are more valuable than you might think.The conversation centers on the "three doors" of entry: Quality, Regulatory Affairs, and Product Development. While each path has unique requirements, Etienne emphasizes that foundational skills like project management, root cause analysis, and technical writing are the true drivers of success. He also clarifies the shift in mindset required to work in a highly regulated environment where "move fast and break things" is replaced by rigorous documentation and risk-management protocols.Finally, Etienne provides a five-step roadmap for career switchers, ranging from learning the regulatory language to networking with intention. He concludes with a powerful reminder that technical competence is only the entry fee; long-term career growth in MedTech requires mastering the "layer above"—communication, visibility, and storytelling.Key Timestamps00:00 – The "career switcher" mindset: Why MedTech is a stable and fulfilling choice.03:15 – The Regulatory Universe: Comparing IATF 16949 and AS9100 to ISO 13485 and 21 CFR Part 820.06:42 – Door #1: Quality. Roles in quality systems, auditing, and why "document control is document control."10:15 – Door #2: Regulatory Affairs. How to break into the most specialized sector of MedTech.13:50 – Door #3: Product Development. Designing with guardrails and the importance of design controls.17:30 – Transferable Skills: Project management (PMP), root cause analysis, and process validation (IQ/OQ/PQ).22:10 – What doesn't transfer: The reality of MedTech speed and the death of "good enough" thinking.26:45 – 5 Steps to making the jump: Language, credentials, networking, targeting, and honesty.32:15 – The Layer Above Competence: Navigating workplace politics and the "Workplace Poker" philosophy.Quotes"In automotive, a quality failure means a recall. In MedTech, a quality failure could mean that somebody gets hurt. It changes the math." - Etienne Nichols"If we didn't document it, it didn't happen. Getting used to that level of rigor is one of the biggest adjustments career switchers face." - Etienne NicholsTakeawaysFocus on the QMS Foundations: If you are coming from a quality background, prioritize learning ISO 13485 and ISO 14971 (Risk Management). These are the global languages of MedTech quality.Document Everything: Successful MedTech professionals must transition from "casual" documentation (emails/memos) to formal Design Controls, where every input has a verified output.Leverage Cross-Industry Skills: Lean on your experience in Six Sigma, Root Cause Analysis (RCA), and Process Validation; the statistics are the same, even if the regulatory "overlay" is different.Target Mid-Sized Companies: While big names like J&J are attractive, medium-sized companies or Contract Manufacturers (CMOs) often provide better mentorship and a faster learning curve for newcomers.Master "The Layer Above": Technical skills get you hired, but visibility and the ability to communicate technical risks to non-technical stakeholders are what lead to promotions.MedTech 101 SectionIQ/OQ/PQ (Process Validation) Think of this like baking a signature cake for a high-stakes competition.IQ (Installation Qualification): Did you plug the oven in correctly and is it the right model? (Is the equipment installed right?)OQ (Operational Qualification): Does the oven actually hit 350°F when you turn the dial, and does it stay there? (Does it work at its limits?)PQ (Performance Qualification): Can you bake ten perfect cakes in a row using your actual ingredients and staff? (Does the process consistently produce a good product?)ReferencesISO 13485:2016: The international standard for medical device quality management systems.21 CFR Part 820 / QMSR: The FDA's requirements for medical device manufacturers.RAPS (Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society): Recommended for Regulatory Affairs Certification (RAC).Workplace Poker by Dan Rust: A recommended read for navigating office politics and career growth.Etienne Nichols' LinkedIn: Connect with Etienne hereSponsorsThis episode is brought to you by Greenlight Guru. If you are transitioning into MedTech, you'll quickly realize that documentation is everything. Greenlight Guru offers the only dedicated Quality Management System (QMS) and Electronic Data Capture (EDC) solutions designed specifically for the medical device industry. Whether you are navigating your first clinical trial or scaling a quality system from scratch, Greenlight Guru helps you move faster while staying compliant.Feedback Call-to-ActionWe want to hear your story! Are you trying to make the jump into MedTech, or have you recently made the switch? Send your questions, topic suggestions, or feedback to podcast@greenlight.guru. Etienne reads every email and provides personalized responses to help you on your journey. We'd also love for you to leave a review on your favorite podcast platform!

In this episode, Ricardo explains that projects age not only over time but also when they lose energy, relevance, and purpose. Many continue to be taken for granted, even as markets, technology, and priorities change. He warns that past investments do not justify continuing, as they do not guarantee future value. Signs of aging include a lack of clarity about the purpose, low team motivation, and decisions based on outdated assumptions. Reviewing or even ending a project is not a failure, but demonstrates leadership. Maintaining “zombie” projects consumes valuable resources. Therefore, leaders must continually assess whether the project remains viable, delivers value, and aligns with current realities. Listen to the podcast to learn more!

On this episode Justin records live at ViVE 2026 in LA. Stay tuned for the next few weeks to hear all his guests. This week, Chris Paravate, MBA, PMP, CHCIO, CDH, CPHIMS, SVP, Chief Information Officer, Northeast GA Health System and Michael Silverstein, Managing Partner of Healthcare IT & Life Sciences, DRI. To stream our Station live 24/7 visit www.HealthcareNOWRadio.com or ask your Smart Device to “….Play Healthcare NOW Radio”. Find all of our network podcasts on your favorite podcast platforms and be sure to subscribe and like us. Learn more at www.healthcarenowradio.com/listen

Project professionals know anticipating the need to pivot is a mainstay on any project. But what warning signs should you look out for? How can project managers identify them? And how should you inform the C-suite of major red flags? We discuss this with Mary Hladio, PMP, senior productivity and program leader at GE Aerospace in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA, and Franziska Höhne, PMP, project manager for international internal auditing at ALDI in Essen, Germany.  Key themes 01:25 Spotting red flags in data and how people communicate and act 04:48 Common red flags on projects: resource misallocation, scope creep and misalignment with organizational strategy 11:28 How to handle overly ambiguous—or extremely constrictive—project specs 15:24 Good practices for communicating red flags to the C-suite  17:00 Creating team cultures with transparency and trust  

Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Brett Harned, founder of the Digital PM Community and the Digital PM Summit, and author of Project Management for Humans: Helping People Get Things Done. Brett has spent years coaching project leaders and helping organizations rethink what project management really is. His core conviction: the human side of the work is not a nice-to-have. It is the work. In this conversation, you'll hear how Brett fell into project management and what early experiences shaped his perspective on people and projects. You'll learn the patterns he sees repeated across teams and industries, practical habits for when projects feel messy or start to drift, and why he believes project management is a leadership role that most organizations still undervalue. Brett also shares his candid take on AI, what it can and cannot do for project leaders, and what advice he would give his younger self. If you lead projects or teams, whether or not you have a PM title, this episode is for you! Sound Bites "Often with PMs, it's finding or receiving or feeling the permission to lead like a human instead of like a machine or a robot." "Projects fail because conversations didn't happen or they happened way too late." "Project management is a leadership role and too often organizations don't see it as a leadership role the way that they should." "Project managers are quietly carrying emotional labor that no one really acknowledges." "You can't earn trust by being invisible." "The role has become less about task tracking and more about judgment, good communication and trust building." "If you call people on your team resources, they have every right to call you overhead." "Slowing conversations down before speeding up the work is like the biggest thing." "Drift isn't usually about effort. It's about misaligned understanding." "AI is not going to replace a really good leader." "AI is great at admin. It's terrible at the leadership stuff. It can't read the room, it can't navigate tension, it can't earn trust." "Say the thing now. Saying something early is almost always safer than saying it too late." "The job of a project manager isn't to absorb chaos. It's to make it a conversation." "Caring about people and building relationships is a skill, and it's a skill that's necessary for this career." Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:52 Start of Interview 01:57 How Brett Describes What He Does 03:29 When the People Side Became Clear 06:52 Patterns Across Teams and Organizations 10:32 How Expectations of the PM Role Have Changed 12:28 The Impact of Remote and Hybrid Work 15:26 Practices for When Projects Feel Messy 18:20 How to Name What Is Happening Out Loud 21:30 A Question for When Projects Start to Drift 23:43 How AI Will and Won't Change the PM Role 25:50 Practical Ways Brett Uses AI 30:21 Advice to Younger Brett 33:40 How PM Skills Show Up Outside of Work 35:58 The PM Squad and Same Team Partners 38:01 End of Interview 38:22 Andy Comments After the Interview 41:30 Outtakes Learn More You can learn more about Brett and his work at SameTeamPartners.com and BrettHarned.com. For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 336 with Clint Padgett. During the interview with Brett, Andy mentioned the weakness of using only percent complete or status colors. That's something Clint and Andy talked about in episode 336. Episode 99 with Mike Roberto. The topic of conflict came up several times in this discussion. In episode 99, Mike and Andy talk about managing the tension between conflict and consensus. It's a discussion worth hearing, especially if you grew up thinking conflict is mostly a negative. Episode 500 with Steve Brown, former Google DeepMind futurist. Andy and Steve talk about AI and the future of work, and it's a discussion highly recommended for anyone leading projects today. Chat with PMeLa You can chat directly with PMeLa—the podcast's AI persona—to get episode recommendations and answers to your project management and leadership questions. Visit PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com/PMeLa to chat with her. Pass the PMP Exam If you or someone you know is thinking about getting PMP certified, we've put together a helpful guide called The 5 Best Resources to Help You Pass the PMP Exam on Your First Try. We've helped thousands of people earn their certification, and we'd love to help you too. It's totally free, and it's a great way to get a head start. Just go to 5BestResources.PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com to grab your copy. I'd love to help you get your PMP this year! Join Us for LEAD52 I know you want to be a more confident leader–that's why you listen to this podcast. LEAD52 is a global community of people like you who are committed to transforming their ability to lead and deliver. It's 52 weeks of leadership learning, delivered right to your inbox, taking less than 5 minutes a week. And it's all for free. Learn more and sign up at GetLEAD52.com. Thanks! Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Power Skills Topics: Project Management, Leadership, Team Dynamics, Communication, Emotional Labor, Human-Centered Leadership, Conflict Management, AI, Future of Work, Stakeholder Management, Psychological Safety, Remote Work, Project Recovery The following music was used for this episode: Music: Echo by Alexander Nakarada License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Synthiemania by Frank Schroeter License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Summary In this episode, Andy welcomes Jen Fisher, author of Hope Is the Strategy: The Underrated Skill That Transforms Work, Leadership, and Wellbeing. In project management circles, we often hear the phrase "hope is not a strategy." Jen challenges that assumption, arguing that real hope is not wishful thinking at all. Instead, it's a practical cognitive process that can help leaders navigate uncertainty, pressure, and change. In the discussion, Jen explains how hope requires three elements: clear goals, multiple pathways to reach them, and the agency to believe we can influence outcomes. You'll also hear her personal story of realizing she was languishing under constant performance pressure, and how a candid conversation with her boss sparked the beginning of a healthier and more hopeful way of working. Along the way, Jen shares practical tools such as possibility journaling, energy ledgers, and hope spotting. She also explains why vulnerability can be a leadership superpower and how simple language shifts can turn hope killers into hope builders. If you're leading teams and projects under constant pressure and looking for practical ways to sustain both performance and wellbeing, this episode is for you! Sound Bites "How would I describe myself? I'm a hope dealer." "Hope is not flimsy. It's not whimsical." "Real hope actually requires action." "What drives hopelessness is feeling like there's nothing you can do." "Hope is the belief that tomorrow can be better than today." "67% of managers said that they've never been trained in how to manage other people. We put humans in charge of other humans, but we give them very little skill and training in how to lead." "You can perform when you're languishing, but the question is really why should we or why would we want to." "For the first time in my professional life, I actually felt seen and heard and valued." "Toxic positivity only makes people feel worse." "Possibility journaling is really thinking about what might be possible here." "Vulnerability is proof that you're human." "When people are feeling uncertain, they want to connect to somebody that feels human." Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:45 Start of Interview 02:00 What Hope Is Not: Clearing Up the Misconceptions 03:45 What Real Hope Actually Requires 05:42 Agency and the Feeling of Hopelessness 06:24 Burnout vs. Hopelessness: Is There a Difference? 07:55 Wellbeing Intelligence: The Leadership Skill We're Missing 11:44 Languishing: That Gray Space Between Fine and Flourishing 14:15 The Hidden Cost of Time Pressure on Creativity 17:00 Breaking Through the High-Functioning Facade 20:15 Setting Boundaries as a Recovering People Pleaser 24:03 Practical Tools: Possibility Journal, Energy Ledger, and Hope Spotting 29:15 Vulnerability as a Leadership Superpower 33:46 Hope Killers and Hope Builders: The Language of Hope 38:00 The Hope Audit and the Hope Strategist Toolkit 39:33 Applying Hope at Home and as a Caregiver 41:30 Where to Learn More About Jen 41:26 End of Interview 41:54 Andy Comments After the Interview 45:18 Outtakes Learn More You can learn more about Jen and her work at Jen-Fisher.com. For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 462 with Margie Warrell. Part of Jen's message in the book is the importance of agency—of believing that you're not a victim and that you have options. Margie is a fierce advocate for how to take action when you're feeling hopeless. I highly recommend her work. Episode 448 with Marie-Hélène Pelletier. It's an engaging discussion about burnout and resilience, and a fantastic follow-up to this discussion with Jen. Episode 396 with Thomas Curran. It's an episode on perfectionism, and I think you'll find it an excellent follow-up to this discussion as well. Chat with PMeLa You can chat directly with PMeLa, the podcast's AI persona, to get episode recommendations and answers to your project management and leadership questions. Visit PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com/PMeLa to chat with her. Pass the PMP Exam If you or someone you know is thinking about getting PMP certified, we've put together a helpful guide called The 5 Best Resources to Help You Pass the PMP Exam on Your First Try. We've helped thousands of people earn their certification, and we'd love to help you too. It's totally free, and it's a great way to get a head start. Just go to 5BestResources.PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com to grab your copy. I'd love to help you get your PMP this year! Join Us for LEAD52 I know you want to be a more confident leader–that's why you listen to this podcast. LEAD52 is a global community of people like you who are committed to transforming their ability to lead and deliver. It's 52 weeks of leadership learning, delivered right to your inbox, taking less than 5 minutes a week. And it's all for free. Learn more and sign up at GetLEAD52.com. Thanks! Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Power Skills Topics: Leadership, Wellbeing, Burnout, Hope, Resilience, Vulnerability, Boundaries, Team Culture, Employee Engagement, Languishing, Psychological Safety, Workplace Performance The following music was used for this episode: Music: Imagefilm 034 by Sascha Ende License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Tuesday by Sascha Ende License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Episode 2765- Vinnie Tortorich welcomes author Bobby Shelton, and they discuss challenging yourself, finding your Why, and the need to tell yourself yes. https://vinnietortorich.com/2026/02/tell-yourself-yes-bobby-shelton-episode-2765 PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS Pure Vitamin Club Pure Coffee Club NSNG® Foods VILLA CAPPELLI EAT HAPPY KITCHEN YOU CAN WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE - @FitnessConfidential Podcast Vinnie's workout videos are available to purchase! Choose from a 2-day, 4-day, or 6-day workout–or buy all three at a discount! TO PURCHASE VINNIE'S WORKOUT VIDEOS, CLICK THIS LINK: https://vinnietortorich.com/workout Tell Yourself Yes Dr. Bobby Shelton (DSL, PMP, ACC) is a best-selling author, leadership coach, and podcaster known for "The Self-Leadership Lab" and the concept of "Easy Hard vs. Hard Hard". (2:30) He is the president of Alphacat Consulting and focuses on personal growth and authentic leadership, with extensive expertise in navigating both professional and personal transformation. The Hard-Hard is your "Why": what is the physical, emotional, spiritual goal, and working towards it. What does Bobby have as examples for what "Easy-Hard" means? (9:30) Bobby describes his health journey not just for weight loss but for overall wellness. (17:00) People are often afraid of hard things, and at the other end of the spectrum, others think that if you're not suffering, you're not working hard enough. (20:00) There is meaning in the middle: struggle doesn't need to mean suffering. Finding your why is important, but not for the reason of "keeping up with the Joneses." They discuss the meaning of "Riding the Tiger." (26:00) Vinnie prefers to be active because it helps open his mind to new ideas. (37:00) The longer you wait to start something, the harder it is to start at all, and the delay gets longer. (41:00) They discuss a type of "divine intervention." You have to find your own rhythm. (46:00) Don't buy into anyone else's dogma. (47:30) They discuss self-talk, beliefs, and visualization. (53:00) Don't let the world get in your way. (58:30) Always think about what's possible and don't let others discourage you! (1:03:00) Surround yourself with positive influences, not those who try to drag you down. Did you miss it?: The NSNG® VIP group closed, but you can get onto the waitlist for next time by signing up at https://www.nsngvip.com/join. A New Sponsor Jaspr Air Scrubbers has a discount code, VINNIE, that gets you $300 off for a limited time. Jaspr offers a lifetime warranty. Go to Jaspr.co for more information or to purchase. (1:05:00) You can book a consultation with Vinnie to get guidance on your goals. https://vinnietortorich.com/phone-consultation-2/ More News Serena has added some of her clothing suggestions and beauty product suggestions to Vinnie's Amazon Recommended Products link. Self Care, Beauty, and Grooming Products that Actually Work! https://www.amazon.com/shop/vinnietortorich/list/3GPVU29UHHPMY?ref_=aipsflist Don't forget to check out Serena Scott Thomas on Days of Our Lives on the Peacock channel. "Dirty Keto" is available on Amazon! You can purchase or rent it here.https://amzn.to/4d9agj1 Please make sure to watch, rate, and review it! Eat Happy Italian, Anna's next cookbook, is available! You can go to https://eathappyitalian.com You can order it from Vinnie's Book Club. https://amzn.to/3ucIXm Anna's recipes are in her cookbooks, on her website, and on Substack —they will spice up your day! https://annavocino.substack.com/ PURCHASE DIRTY KETO (2024) The documentary launched in August 2024! Order it TODAY! This is Vinnie's fourth documentary in just over five years. Visit my new Documentaries HQ to find my films everywhere: https://vinnietortorich.com/documentaries Then, please share my fact-based, health-focused documentary series with your friends and family. Additionally, the more views it receives, the better it ranks, so please watch it again with a new friend! REVIEWS: Please submit your REVIEW after you watch my films. Your positive REVIEW does matter! PURCHASE BEYOND IMPOSSIBLE (2022) Visit my new Documentaries HQ to find my films everywhere: https://vinnietortorich.com/documentaries FAT: A DOCUMENTARY 2 (2021) Visit my new Documentaries HQ to find my films everywhere: https://vinnietortorich.com/documentaries FAT: A DOCUMENTARY (2019) Visit my new Documentaries HQ to find my films everywhere: https://vinnietortorich.com/documentaries