Podcasts about PMP

Why do accountability systems fail even when roles and responsibilities seem clear? In this episode, we sit down with Robert Snyder, Founder and President of Innovation Elegance, LLC, to explore why most organizations unintentionally separate authority from accountability, creating confusion, project delays, and trust issues. Robert introduces his Five Verbs framework—draft, review, revise, approve, and distribute—and explains how it creates clearer ownership, stronger collaboration, and better decision-making. Together, we discuss why documentation is a leadership tool rather than administrative overhead, how teams can detect and address untrustworthiness earlier, and why discipline and empathy must work together to build high-performing cultures. We leave with a practical perspective on creating trust through clear expectations, transparent decisions, and systems that help people succeed together. Key Takeaways: Keep authority and accountability connected to strengthen trust and execution.Use simple, repeatable processes to create clarity across teams.Document decisions that matter and avoid relying on memory alone.Encourage healthy task conflict while preventing personality conflict.Build empathy through consistent habits, questions, and team rhythms. Resources Mentioned The Inspire Your Team to Greatness assessment (the Courage Assessment) - In less than 10 minutes, find out where you're empowering and inadvertently kills productivity, and get a custom report that will tell you step by step what you need to have your team get more done. Get it here: https://courageofaleader.com/inspireyourteam/ You don't need to have all the answers to lead well. Get your copy of the Clarity Kit for just $17 to learn the five practices to bring more clarity, confidence and courage into your leadership - https://courageofaleader.com/the-clarity-kit/ About the Guest: Robert Snyder is the founder and president of Innovation Elegance, LLC. His thirty-year career spans roles such as developer, project management, change management, sales enablement, and the performing arts. His career path includes corporate roles, consulting roles, startups, PMP, and Agile certifications. He's performed in numerous vocal, dance, and theater ensembles. Robert earned his BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois and his MBA in Strategy from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Robert is publishing a series of books on innovation methodology. Innovation Elegance: Transcending Agile with Ruthlessness and Grace - https://a.co/d/0e8MCIao Innovation Portfolio: Five Verbs Shape Your Team's Legacy - https://a.co/d/0h1K85BO Elegant Leadership: Distinguishing the Good, the Bad, and the False (targeting 2027) About the Host: Amy L. Riley is an internationally renowned speaker, author and consultant. She has over 2 decades of experience developing leaders at all levels. Her clients include Cisco Systems, Deloitte and Barclays. As a trusted leadership coach and consultant, Amy has worked with hundreds of leaders one-on-one, and thousands more as part of a group, to fully step into their leadership, create amazing teams and achieve extraordinary results. Amy's most popular keynote speeches are: The Courage of a Leader: The Power of a Leadership LegacyThe Courage of a Leader: Create a Competitive Advantage with Sustainable, Results-Producing Cross-System CollaborationThe Courage of a Leader: Accelerate Trust with Your Team, Customers and CommunityThe Courage of a Leader: How to Build a Happy and Successful Hybrid TeamHer new book is a #1 international best-seller and is entitled, The Courage of a Leader: How to Inspire, Engage and Get Extraordinary Results - https://a.co/d/06hsUz64 http://www.courageofaleader.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyshoopriley Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the, podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts. Mentioned in this episode:The Inspire Your Team to Greatness Assessment (The Courage Assessment)https://courageofaleader.com/inspireyourteam/

In this episode, Ricardo compares a project to a disorganized email inbox, full of messages, decisions, and pending tasks without proper handling. He explains that many projects don't face difficulties due to a lack of resources or schedule flaws, but because of the accumulation of actions, risks, requests, and decisions without follow-up. To deal with this problem, he presents the principles of the GTD (Getting Things Done) methodology, created by David Allen, which is based on the idea that the human mind should generate ideas, not store them. Ricardo highlights five fundamental steps: capturing information, clarifying necessary actions, organizing responsibilities, regularly reviewing records, and executing priorities. Applied to projects, these principles help reduce chaos, increase productivity, and improve decision-making. Listen to the podcast to learn more!

Neste episódio, Ricardo compara um projeto a uma caixa de e-mails desorganizada, repleta de mensagens, decisões e pendências sem tratamento adequado. Ele explica que muitos projetos não enfrentam dificuldades por falta de recursos ou por falhas no cronograma, mas pelo acúmulo de ações, riscos, solicitações e decisões sem acompanhamento. Para lidar com esse problema, apresenta os princípios da metodologia GTD (Getting Things Done), criada por David Allen, que parte da ideia de que a mente humana deve gerar ideias, e não armazená-las. Ricardo destaca cinco etapas fundamentais: capturar informações, esclarecer ações necessárias, organizar responsabilidades, revisar regularmente os registros e executar as prioridades. Aplicados aos projetos, esses princípios ajudam a reduzir o caos, aumentar a produtividade e melhorar a tomada de decisões. Escute o podcast para saber mais!

What do you actually need to know BEFORE you press your vinyl record… and what mistakes will totally ruin it?In this episode, Piper Payne returns to take us way deeper into the real-world physics, workflows, and decisions behind vinyl mastering and pressing. We dig into how your mixes translate onto a lacquer, why the inside of a record behaves differently from the outside, and what you should never do with high-frequency content, fades, or waveform clipping if you want your album to play back clean.Piper walks us through mastering decisions that happen long before a lacquer is ever cut - from sequencing songs for the side A/B layout, to choosing what belongs near the inside groove, to dealing with transient-heavy material. We talk about how vinyl masters differ from digital masters, why certain modern productions literally "can't be cut," and how Piper preps mixes so she can create both vinyl- and digital-optimized versions without having to redo a full master.We also dig into the realities of running Physical Music Products, her independent pressing plant in Nashville. Piper explains realistic costs for pressing records, what 250-unit short runs look like, why PMP maintains fast 5–7 week turnarounds, and how they protect indie artists from being bumped by major-label orders. We get into pre-sales, special editions, distribution challenges, shipping logistics, recycled vinyl, and how PMP now handles merch, drop-shipping, and fulfillment to help artists actually profit from physical releases.Finally, Piper shares practical advice on handling, storing, and cleaning your vinyl once you've made it - including heat warping, inner groove distortion, groove guard, dust sleeves, jackets, mold issues, and even why some records can recover after a warp and some can't. She also covers creative fundraising ideas, how fans influence color pressing choices, and why vinyl is still the only format where artists control quantity, pricing, and revenue directly.This episode is packed with real-world mastering and pressing knowledge you won't get anywhere else.Get access to FREE mixing mini-course: https://MixMasterBundle.comTHANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!http://UltimateMixingMasterclass.comhttps://usa.sae.edu/ https://www.izotope.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off!https://www.native-instruments.com Use code ROCK10 to get 10% off!https://www.spectra1964.comhttps://gracedesign.com/https://pickrmusic.com https://RecordingStudioRockstars.com/Academyhttps://www.thetoyboxstudio.com/Listen to the podcast theme song “Skadoosh!” https://solo.to/lijshawmusicListen to this guest's discography on Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6QRbUHGE73GJs2e6CuN2Ai?si=2f5bd18788fb4f2eIf you love the podcast, then please leave a review: https://RSRockstars.com/ReviewCLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE SHOW NOTES AT: https://RSRockstars.com/562

In this podcast, Ricardo explores the emerging concept of the “one-person project,” made possible by advances in artificial intelligence, automation, and digital platforms. He challenges the traditional belief that complex projects require large teams, noting that bigger teams also increase coordination efforts, communication overhead, and dependencies. Drawing on Brooks' Law, he explains that adding more people does not always improve productivity. Today, a single professional can perform tasks that once required entire teams, raising the question of whether projects should be delivered by the smallest effective team possible. However, he also highlights risks such as knowledge concentration and reduced diversity of perspectives. Finally, Ricardo expands the discussion to the future of work, questioning how society will adapt if fewer people are needed to achieve greater results. Listen to the podcast to learn more about!

Neste episódio, Ricardo reflete sobre a crescente possibilidade de projetos serem executados por uma única pessoa graças ao avanço da inteligência artificial, da automação e das plataformas digitais. Ele destaca que, tradicionalmente, projetos complexos exigiam grandes equipes, mas que o aumento do número de pessoas também amplia os esforços de coordenação, comunicação e alinhamento. Com as novas tecnologias, um profissional pode realizar atividades que antes demandavam equipes inteiras, tornando possível reduzir o tamanho dos times sem comprometer os resultados. Contudo, esse modelo traz riscos, como a concentração de conhecimento e a redução da diversidade de perspectivas. Ricardo amplia a discussão para o futuro do trabalho, questionando os impactos sociais e econômicos de um cenário em que cada vez menos pessoas sejam necessárias para produzir mais resultados. Escute o podcast para saber mais!

Industrial Talk is onsite at SMRP 2025 and talking to Tara Holwegner, Program Leader at Life Cycle Engineering about "Training is key to reliability success". Overview Scott Mackenzie from Industrial Talk interviews Tara Holwegner at the SMRP conference, highlighting IRISS electrical maintenance safety technologies and Lifecycle Engineering's 20-year history in training industrial professionals. Tara discusses the importance of upskilling, reskilling, and training, noting that 25% of respondents to her poll prioritize these issues. She emphasizes the need for a balanced approach to people, process, and technology. Tara also promotes Lifecycle Engineering's Smarter Playbook, which offers resources in five languages and six work streams, aiming to standardize best practices in maintenance and reliability. Outline Introduction and Welcome to Industrial Talk Podcast Scott Mackenzie introduces himself and the Industrial Talk podcast, emphasizing its focus on industry professionals and innovations.Scott welcomes listeners to the podcast, highlighting the importance of celebrating industry professionals.Scott mentions being at the SMRP conference and introduces Tara Holwegner, a recurring guest on the podcast.Tara expresses her excitement about being back at the SMRP conference and shares her background with Lifecycle Engineering. Tara's Background and Lifecycle Engineering Tara explains her role at Lifecycle Engineering, an engineering, maintenance, and reliability consulting firm.She mentions the Lifecycle Institute, which has been training industrial professionals for 20 years.Tara shares her certifications: CMRP, CRO, PMP, and her role as a certified instructional designer.She discusses the importance of building products and services to help professionals reach their full potential in the industry. Challenges and Focus Areas for 2025 Tara shares the results of a poll she conducted about the challenges and struggles professionals will face in the new year.The poll results indicate that upskilling, reskilling, or training is a significant concern for 25% of respondents.Standard work and process optimization, technology additions, and CMMS data integrity are also key areas of focus.Scott and Tara discuss the importance of addressing these challenges to improve reliability and efficiency in the industry. Importance of People, Process, and Technology Scott and Tara emphasize the need to focus on people, process, and technology to achieve reliable operations.Tara highlights the importance of getting the people and processes right before implementing technology.They discuss the role of technology in attracting new talent and the need for public-private partnerships to build interest in the industry.Scott and Tara agree on the importance of storytelling to inspire the next generation of industry professionals. Lifecycle Engineering's Smarter Playbook Tara introduces the Lifecycle Engineering Smarter Playbook, which provides best practices for maintenance and reliability.The playbook includes resources in five languages and covers six work streams with over 400 online resources.Tara mentions the expansion of the playbook to include eight online courses by the end of the year.She explains the playbook's role in helping organizations understand the value of reliable operations and standard work. Operational Readiness and Capital Projects Tara discusses the importance of operational readiness, especially for organizations undertaking large-scale capital projects.She explains the need for designing reliability into new assets and having maintenance plans for the life of the asset.Tara highlights the role of Lifecycle Engineering in helping organizations achieve operational readiness.Scott and Tara discuss the challenges of sustaining reliability and the need for active leadership and commitment. The Role of Leadership and Collaboration Scott and Tara discuss the challenges of leadership churn and the need for consistent commitment to reliability.They emphasize the importance of collaboration and finding trusted advisors to help organizations succeed.Tara shares her experience of Lifecycle Engineering's commitment to helping clients even after projects are completed.They agree on the need for a broad understanding of reliability and maintenance across different roles within an organization. The Importance of Education and Training Tara stresses the importance of continuous education and training for professionals in the industry.She highlights the increased demand for certification programs and the need for organizations to invest in their employees' growth.Scott and Tara discuss the role of technology in enhancing training and education.They emphasize the need for a comprehensive approach to training, covering all levels of an organization. Conclusion and Call to Action Scott and Tara wrap up the conversation by emphasizing the importance of the SMRP conference for industry professionals.They encourage listeners to connect with Tara and other industry experts to learn and collaborate.Scott highlights the role of Industrial Talk in helping organizations tell their stories and succeed.They conclude by encouraging listeners to be bold, brave, and daring in their approach to industry challenges. If interested in being on the Industrial Talk show, simply contact us and let's have a quick conversation. Finally, get your exclusive free access to the Industrial Academy and a series on “Why You Need To Podcast” for Greater Success in 2026. All links designed for keeping you current in this rapidly changing Industrial Market. Learn! Grow! Enjoy! TARA HOLWEGNER'S CONTACT INFORMATION: Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taradenton/ Company LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/life-cycle-engineering/posts/?feedView=all Company Website: https://www.lce.com/ PODCAST VIDEO: https://youtu.be/VAmsGWFdNQU THE STRATEGIC REASON "WHY YOU NEED TO PODCAST": OTHER GREAT INDUSTRIAL RESOURCES: NEOM: https://www.neom.com/en-us Hexagon: https://hexagon.com/ Arduino: https://www.arduino.cc/ Fictiv: https://www.fictiv.com/ Hitachi Vantara: https://www.hitachivantara.com/en-us/home.html Industrial Marketing Solutions:  https://industrialtalk.com/industrial-marketing/ Industrial Academy: https://industrialtalk.com/industrial-academy/ Industrial Dojo: https://industrialtalk.com/industrial_dojo/ We the 15: https://www.wethe15.org/ YOUR INDUSTRIAL DIGITAL TOOLBOX: LifterLMS: Get One Month Free for $1 – https://lifterlms.com/ Active Campaign: Active Campaign Link Social Jukebox: https://www.socialjukebox.com/ Industrial Academy (One Month Free Access And One Free License For Future Industrial Leader): Business Beatitude the Book Do you desire a more joy-filled, deeply-enduring sense of accomplishment and success? Live your...

VOV1 - Ngày 4/6, Tổng thống Romania, Nicușor Dan, đã đề cử cố vấn của mình là ông Eugen Tomac làm Thủ tướng mới. Động thái này nhằm chấm dứt cuộc khủng hoảng chính trị, vốn làm đình trệ việc hoạch định chính sách và đe dọa khả năng tiếp cận quỹ EU của nước này.Phát biểu trước báo giới, Tổng thống Nicușor Dan cho biết, sau khi các đảng phái chính trị không thể đạt được đồng thuận trong nhiều vấn đề, giải pháp khả thi duy nhất là đề cử một thủ tướng độc lập với các đảng có đại diện trong quốc hội. Việc đề cử ông Eugen Tomac là thủ tướng xuất phát từ việc ông Tomac là người có kinh nghiệm chính trị trong hợp tác với từng đảng, có thể tạo sự đồng thuận giữa nhiều đảng phái trong bối cảnh hiện tại.Theo quy định, sau khi được đề cử, ông Tomac có 10 ngày để đưa ra danh sách các bộ trưởng và chương trình điều hành chính phủ, sau đó cần được Quốc hội phê chuẩn thông qua phiếu tín nhiệm. Nếu Quốc hội bác bỏ đề xuất của Tổng thống, quy trình đề cử sẽ được bắt đầu lại từ đầu.Tổng thống Nicușor Dan nhấn mạnh, các ưu tiên hàng đầu của chính phủ mới cần tập trung vào việc duy trì lập trường thân phương Tây, bảo đảm ổn định tài chính quốc gia, thực thi các cải cách cần thiết để đảm bảo nguồn vốn từ EU và làm rõ kế hoạch ngân sách cho năm 2027. Những ưu tiên này nhằm đưa Romania vượt qua giai đoạn khó khăn và khôi phục niềm tin từ các đối tác quốc tế.Việc đề cử ông Eugen Tomac là thủ tướng mới diễn ra sau khi Quốc hội Romania thông qua nghị quyết bất tín nhiệm đối với Chính phủ của Thủ tướng Ilie Bolojan vào đầu tháng 5 vừa qua, buộc ông Bolojan và nội các của ông phải từ chức.Ông Eugen Tomac, 44 tuổi, là thành viên của Nghị viện châu Âu và lãnh đạo Đảng Phong trào Nhân dân (PMP)-một đảng không có ghế trong Quốc hội Romania. Nội các của ông Tomac có thể sẽ gặp khó khăn trong việc giành được sự ủng hộ từ Quốc hội, vốn đang bất đồng quan điểm trong các chính sách cốt lõi.Theo giới phân tích, dù còn nhiều thách thức, tuy nhiên, động thái đề cử ông Eugen Tomac là thủ tướng mới thể hiện nỗ lực của Tổng thống Nicușor Dan trong việc chấm dứt cuộc khủng hoảng chính trị kéo dài, mở ra triển vọng phục hồi kinh tế và sự ổn định cho quốc gia Đông Nam Âu này trong thời gian tới./.Như Hoa/ VOV SÉCÔng Eugen Tomac (bên trái) tham dự cuộc họp báo cùng Tổng thống Romania Nicusor Dan, tại Bucharest, Romania, ngày 4/6/2026. (Ảnh: Reuters)

In this episode, the Alliance Podcast Task Force debates topics that split CME/CPD providers. Listen in as Milini Mingo, CHCP, PMP, moderates her fellow members, Kellie Beumer, MBA, and Andrea Zimmerman, EdD, CHCP. Debaters, you have the floor!|| LINKSAlmanac: Home | Alliance: Alliance for Continuing Education in the Health Professions | Alliance LinkedIn: Alliance For Continuing Education in the Health Professions: Posts | LinkedIn | Milini LinkedIn: Milini Mingo, MPA, CHCP, PMP | LinkedIn | Kellie LinkedIn: Kellie Beumer | LinkedIn | Andrea LinkedIn: Andrea M Zimmerman, EdD, CHCP | LinkedIn

In this episode, Ricardo presents Brooks' Law, created over 50 years ago and still very relevant. The law states that adding people to a software project that is behind schedule tends to delay it even further. This is because new members need to be trained and mentored by more experienced members, reducing team productivity. Furthermore, increasing the number of people makes communication, coordination, and integration of deliverables more complex. Ricardo emphasizes that this concept remains valid in the age of artificial intelligence, as adding more tools, agents, or automations does not solve problems of priorities, processes, or governance. Often, the solution lies in removing obstacles, simplifying decisions, and improving work coordination. Listen to the podcast to learn more about!

Neste episódio, Ricardo apresenta a Lei de Brooks, criada há mais de 50 anos e ainda muito relevante. A lei afirma que adicionar pessoas a um projeto de software, que está atrasado, tende a atrasá-lo ainda mais. Isso ocorre porque os novos integrantes precisam ser treinados e orientados pelos membros mais experientes, reduzindo a produtividade da equipe. Além disso, o aumento do número de pessoas torna a comunicação, a coordenação e a integração das entregas mais complexas. Ricardo destaca que esse conceito continua válido na era da inteligência artificial, pois adicionar mais ferramentas, agentes ou automações não resolve problemas de prioridades, processos ou governança. Muitas vezes, a solução está em remover obstáculos, simplificar decisões e melhorar a coordenação do trabalho. Escute o podcast para saber mais!

Nueva entrega de "Días de Purple Music", programas en los que repasamos la discografía de Prince desde el principio junto a los chicos del podcast "Días de Discos", Raúl Lupiáñez y Juanan Oliva. Continuamos nuestro repaso con los discos "Dirty Mind" y "Controversy". Contextualizamos cada álbum y escuchamos con vosotros nuestras seis canciones favoritas de estos dos discos. Libro Purple Music: https://purplemusic.es/tienda/libro-purple-music-vol-1/ Puedes seguir a Purple Music en: iVoox: https://bit.ly/31qkaqX Apple: https://apple.co/2SGQ3IN Instagram: @purplemusicpodcast X: @PurpleMusicPod1 Y contactarnos en: Web: https://purplemusic.es Correo electrónico: podcast AT purplemusic.es ¡Envíanos tus comentarios! Stay tuned, stay Funky! Música de sintonía: Purple Music (Prince), remix by PMP. Música de cierre: "Uptown" (Pittsburgh, 1981). The Estate of Prince Rogers Nelson is not affiliated, associated, or connected with Purple Music Podcast nor has it endorsed or sponsored Purple Music Podcast. Further, the Estate of Prince Rogers Nelson has not licensed any of its intelectual property to the producers of Purple Music Podcast. NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED. We just want to share our love for Prince music.

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.

In this episode, Ricardo discusses the main misunderstandings about the eighth edition of the PMBOK Guide. He explains that the PMI has not abandoned traditional management nor transformed everything into agile, but has begun to integrate predictive, hybrid, and adaptive approaches in a more intelligent way. Ricardo emphasizes that governance, cost control, scheduling, and leadership remain essential, but are now applied in more complex and dynamic environments. He also clarifies that artificial intelligence appears as a support tool, not as a replacement for human leadership. Another important point is that no framework solves cultural problems or management failures on its own. According to Ricardo, the new PMBOK seeks to connect execution and value creation, reducing conflict between methodologies and encouraging adaptation to the real context of projects. Listen to the podcast to learn more about! * The opinions presented in this podcast reflect solely the personal views of Ricardo and do not necessarily represent the position of PMI. This episode has no sponsorship, support, or institutional affiliation with any organization.

Neste episódio, Ricardo comenta os principais mal-entendidos sobre a oitava edição do PMBOK Guide. Ele explica que o PMI não abandonou a gestão tradicional nem transformou tudo em ágil, mas passou a integrar abordagens preditivas, híbridas e adaptativas de forma mais inteligente. Ricardo destaca que governança, controle de custos, cronograma e liderança continuam essenciais, porém agora aplicados em ambientes mais complexos e dinâmicos. Ele também esclarece que a inteligência artificial aparece como ferramenta de apoio, não como substituição da liderança humana. Outro ponto importante é que nenhum framework resolve problemas culturais ou falhas de gestão sozinho. Segundo Ricardo, o novo PMBOK busca conectar execução e geração de valor, reduzindo o conflito entre metodologias e incentivando adaptação ao contexto real dos projetos. Escute o podcast para saber mais! * As opiniões apresentadas neste podcast refletem exclusivamente a visão pessoal de Ricardo e não representam, necessariamente, o posicionamento do PMI. Este episódio não possui patrocínio, apoio ou vínculo institucional com qualquer organização.

“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

Dr. Adeel Shaikh Muhammad, a cybersecurity strategist and global speaker with over 16 years of experience across information security, networks, and systems. Adeel brings a practical perspective on how organizations can adapt to evolving cyber threats and the growing role of AI in cybersecurity. Adeel, with an extraordinary portfolio of 40+ industry certifications, including CISSP, CISM, CISA, CCISO, PMP, CEH, ISO 27001 Lead Implementer & Auditor, and a robust suite of advanced Cisco, Microsoft, Fortinet, Barracuda, ITIL, PRINCE2, and AI-related credentials, he is a benchmark of technical mastery and visionary execution. His academic excellence includes a Master's in Cybersecurity and a current Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) focused on the impact of AI in Security Operations Centers (SOCs) in the Gulf region.Adeel is the author of two acclaimed books—“AI-Driven Transformation of Security Operations Center (SOC)” and “AI and Us: The Ethical Choices”—bridging the critical intersection of AI innovation and ethical leadership.Support our show by sharing your favorite episodes with a friend, subscribe, give us a rating or leave a comment on your podcast platform. This podcast is brought to you by LimaCharlie, maker of the SecOps Cloud Platform, infrastructure for SecOps where everything is built API first. Scale with confidence as your business grows. Start today for free at limacharlie.io

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!

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

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

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