People and Projects Podcast: Project Management Podcast

Summary In this episode, Andy Kaufman interviews Ryan Hawk, host of the Learning Leader podcast and author of the book The Score That Matters: Growing Excellence in Yourself and Those You Lead. They discuss the importance of valuing excellence and pursuing personal growth, as well as the dangers of comparing oneself to others and keeping score based on external metrics. They also explore the role of self-awareness and fear in leadership, and the importance of surrounding oneself with people who provide honest feedback. The conversation highlights the need for leaders to lead themselves first and develop transformational relationships. Sound Bites Chapters Learn More You can learn more about Ryan, his book, and the Learning Leader podcast at LearningLeader.com. If you’d like more on this subject, here are some episodes to check out: Episode 391Episode 242 AI for Project Managers and Leaders With the constant stream of AI news, it's sometimes hard to grasp how these advancements can benefit us as project managers and leaders in our day-to-day work. That's why I developed our e-learning course: AI Made Simple: A Practical Guide to Using AI in Your Everyday Work. This self-guided course is designed for project managers and leaders aiming to harness AI's potential to enhance your work, streamline your workflow, and boost your productivity. Go to ai.i-leadonline.com to learn more and join us. The feedback from the program has been fantastic. Take this opportunity to unlock the potential of AI for your team and projects. Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Power Skills The following music was used for this episode: Music: Tranceverse by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/5223-tranceverse License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Tuesday by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/2992-tuesday License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Summary In this episode, Andy talks with K. Scott Griffith about his new book, The Leader's Guide to Managing Risk. The book explores the importance of building resilience and reliability in projects, teams, and life. The conversation delves into the social and technical aspects of producing results, the need for human-resilient systems, and the impact of at-risk choices and cutting corners. It emphasizes the importance of recognizing and addressing risks, as well as creating a culture of safety and employee engagement. In this conversation, Scott discusses the importance of managing risks in projects and organizations. He emphasizes the need to create a culture of psychological safety where team members feel empowered to identify and report risks. Scott explains the process of managing risks, including balancing risk and reward, understanding and managing risks, and considering performance shaping factors. He also highlights the importance of building reliable systems and applies risk management principles to parenting. Whether you're a project manager, a leader in your organization, or someone interested in the art and science of risk management, this episode is packed with thought-provoking insights and strategies to help you lead with confidence and navigate uncertainties more effectively. Chapters Learn More You can learn more about Scott and his books at LeadersGuideToManagingRisk.com. If you’d like more on this subject, here are some episodes to check out: Episodes 49 and 50Episode 240Episode 379 Check out Beacon by Anvilyard! In risk management, anticipating problems is half the battle. Now imagine a tool that brings this foresight into everyday project tracking, where goals are updated automatically, risks are forecasted early, and you're equipped to navigate setbacks before they arise. Beacon, a Jira App offered by our sponsor Anvilyard, gives you this power. By integrating with your Jira instance, Beacon makes it seamless to track and forecast the health of your project goals. It flags any goals at risk, giving you the foresight to course correct before your team misses. With Beacon, your team stays aligned and on track, effortlessly navigating toward success. I’ve been impressed with the tool, so check it out. You can learn more and try it for free by going to PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com/beacon. Thanks! Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Ways of Working The following music was used for this episode: Music: On Point by Steven O'Brien Available at: https://www.steven-obrien.net/ License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Energetic & Drive Indie Rock by TaigaSoundProd Available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjeI1ViDB-c License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Summary In this episode, Andy welcomes Paul Falcone to discuss his book The First-Time Manager: Leading Through Crisis. The conversation dives into common challenges faced by managers such as performance conversations, dealing with dysfunctional teams or bosses, and navigating situations like having to fire an employee or dealing with a younger (or older) manager scenario. Whether you're a new manager or been around for a while, there's insight in this episode for you. Chapters Learn More You can learn more about Paul and his books at PaulFalconeHR.com/books. If you’d like more on this subject, here are some episodes to check out: Episode 360Episode 368Episode 358 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 The following music was used for this episode: Music: Tranceverse by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/5223-tranceverse License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Tuesday by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/2992-tuesday License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Summary In this episode, Andy interviews Ben Guttmann about his book, Simply Put: Why Clear Messages Win and How to Design Them. They discuss how to design and deliver messages that not only capture attention but also evoke meaningful responses. They delve into concepts like simplicity, fluency, and minimal messaging. Ben demonstrates how linguistic complexity can impact a message's success. Additionally, he shares practical examples, shedding light on how to make your communication more effective, regardless of your role in a project. Overall, the conversation highlights the importance of clear and effective communication in all aspects of life and work. Chapters Learn More You can learn more about Ben and his book at BenGuttmann.com. If you’d like more on this subject, here are some episodes to check out: Episode 378Episode 349Episode 342Episode 195We Need to Talk 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 The following music was used for this episode: Music: Brooklyn Nights by Tim Kulig Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/11192-brooklyn-nights License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Quantum Sparks [Full version] by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10996-quantum-sparks-full-version License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Summary In this episode, Andy interviews Tara Miller, a successful project manager and the founder of Artemis, a management consulting business. Tara shares her journey into project management and highlights the misconceptions about the role. She also discusses important lessons she has learned about leading people and delivering projects. Tara emphasizes the significance of building strong team dynamics and fostering individual connections. She provides practical management practices for leading and delivering projects, such as getting to know team members individually, creating team dynamics, and establishing a shared purpose. She also reflects on her personal journey to success, emphasizing the value of hard work and the support of others. Lastly, Tara provides advice for working parents and highlights the benefits of embracing chaos and taking risks. In the outtakes, Andy and Tara discuss the role of AI in project management and the potential impact on the future of work. Chapters Learn More You can learn more about Tara at ArtemisFactor.com. The Personal Operating Profile (POP) service that Tara mentions is available at HelloLLUNA.com/MakeAPOP. AI for Project Managers and Leaders With the constant stream of AI news, it's sometimes hard to grasp how these advancements can benefit us as project managers and leaders in our day-to-day work. That's why I developed our e-learning course: AI Made Simple: A Practical Guide to Using AI in Your Everyday Work. This self-guided course is designed for project managers and leaders aiming to harness AI's potential to enhance your work, streamline your workflow, and boost your productivity. Go to ai.i-leadonline.com to learn more and join us. The feedback from the program has been fantastic. Take this opportunity to unlock the potential of AI for your team and projects. Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Ways of Working The following music was used for this episode: Music: Brooklyn Nights by Tim Kulig Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/11192-brooklyn-nights License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Quantum Sparks [Full version] by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10996-quantum-sparks-full-version License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Summary In this episode, Andy Kaufman interviews Gil Broza about his new book, Deliver Better Results: How to Unlock Your Organization's Potential. They discuss the importance of systems thinking in value delivery and the six aspects of system fitness. Gil shares practical strategies for improving value delivery and emphasizes the significance of mindset over tactics. He also provides examples of successful transformations and offers resources available on the book's website. Takeaways Chapters Learn More You can learn more about Gil and his book at DeliverBetterResultsBook.com. The free chapter that Gil mentioned is available at HeardOnPodcast.DeliverBetterResultsBook.com. No Freaking Idea! Do you know someone who is in college or maybe recently graduated? My experience is there are a growing number of people who dread being asked the question, “So, what’s the plan?” When it comes to their career, they have no freaking idea! I bring this up because we have a course entitled just that: No Freaking Idea: How to Navigate Career Uncertaity. It’s a career guide for people who don’t know what they want to do, and it has been so fun to hear the feedback on the course. Whether it’s you who is wondering about next steps in your career or a son or daughter and you'd like to give them this as a gift, learn more by going to NoFreakingIdea.courses. Thanks! Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Ways of Working The following music was used for this episode: Music: Brooklyn Nights by Tim Kulig Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/11192-brooklyn-nights License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Quantum Sparks [Full version] by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10996-quantum-sparks-full-version License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Summary In this episode, Andy interviews author Anne Morris about key concepts from her book Move Fast and Fix Things: The Trusted Leader's Guide to Solving Hard Problems. She emphasizes the importance of building trust and moving fast in change initiatives. Morris introduces the FIX Map, which illustrates the relationship between trust and speed. She also explores the significance of inclusion and the power of storytelling in driving successful change. Additionally, Morris addresses common misconceptions about speed and shares insights on applying Agile principles to change management. Chapters Learn More You can learn more about Anne and her book at AnneAndFrances.com. And catch her TEDx Talk at https://www.ted.com/talks/anne_morriss_5_steps_to_fix_any_problem_at_work. If you’d like more on this topic, check out my discussion with Anne's co-author Frances Frei in episode 294 where we talk about their book Unleashed. AI for Project Managers and Leaders If you're not actively using AI on a daily basis, you might just be missing out. Join us for our course AI Made Simple. It's specifically tuned to everyday use cases for project managers and leaders. Join other colleagues from around the world who have found it immensely helpful! Thanks! Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Power Skills The following music was used for this episode: Music: Summer Morning [Full version] by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/11262-summer-morning-full-version License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Fashion Corporate by Frank Schroeter Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/11233-fashion-corporate License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Summary In this episode, Andy Kaufman interviews Kayla McGuire, a seasoned project manager and coach who runs a boot camp to help people learn and prepare for becoming a freelancer. They discuss Kayla's journey to project management and freelancing, lessons in leading projects, practical tips for running projects, reasons for pursuing freelancing, common mistakes in freelancing, and the importance of mentors. Kayla also shares insights on using LinkedIn effectively and the value of continual learning and personal development. The episode concludes with information about Kayla's freelancer boot camp. Takeaways Chapters Learn More You can learn more about Kayla and her boot camp at KaylaMcGuire.com. And connect with Kayla on LinkedIn at LinkedIn.com/in/KaylaMcGuire. Gift a Loved One a Head Start With Their Career Do you know someone dealing with career uncertainty? My experience is there are a growing number of people who dread being asked the question, “So, what’s the plan?” When it comes to their career, they have no freaking idea! I bring this up because I want you to check out our new course entitled just that: No Freaking Idea: How to Navigate Career Uncertainty. It’s a career guide for people who don’t know what they want to do, and it has been so fun to hear the feedback on the course. Whether you are wondering about the next steps in your career or it's a son or daughter and you'd like to give them a head start as a gift, learn more by going to NoFreakingIdea.courses. Thanks! Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Business Acumen The following music was used for this episode: Music: Tranceverse by Sascha Ende Website: https://filmmusic.io/song/5223-tranceverse License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Tuesday by Sascha Ende Website: https://filmmusic.io/song/2992-tuesday License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Summary In this in-depth discussion, Andy is joined by Eduardo Briceño, author of The Performance Paradox: Turning the Power of Mindset Into Action, to delve into the concepts of a growth mindset versus a fixed mindset. The conversation covers how these mindsets are not as binary or mutually exclusive as we may think, but rather can be found within us at different times and in different contexts. The theme of maintaining a balance between having a growth mindset, which holds the belief in the potential for change and improvement, and knowing when to lean into a fixed mindset, is explored. Eduardo advises on how to apply deliberate practice to improve performance and suggests viewing ourselves as evolving and changing. Chapters Learn More You can learn more about Eduardo and his book at Briceno.com. And catch his TEDx Talk at https://www.ted.com/talks/eduardo_briceno_how_to_get_better_at_the_things_you_care_about. If you’d like more on this topic, check out: Episode 202Episode 236Episode 240 Gift a Loved One a Head Start With Their Career Do you know someone dealing with career uncertainty? My experience is there are a growing number of people who dread being asked the question, “So, what’s the plan?” When it comes to their career, they have no freaking idea! I bring this up because I want you to check out our new course entitled just that: No Freaking Idea: How to Navigate Career Uncertainty. It’s a career guide for people who don’t know what they want to do, and it has been so fun to hear the feedback on the course. Whether you are wondering about the next steps in your career or it's a son or daughter and you'd like to give them a head start as a gift, learn more by going to NoFreakingIdea.courses. Thanks! Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Power Skills The following music was used for this episode: Music: Summer Morning [Full version] by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/11262-summer-morning-full-version License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Fashion Corporate by Frank Schroeter Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/11233-fashion-corporate License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Summary In this conversation, Andy Kaufman interviews Micah Solomon, author of the book Can Your Customer Service Do This? Create an Anticipatory Customer Experience that Builds Loyalty Forever. They discuss the importance of customer service and how it applies to project managers and leaders, not just people in hospitality or retail. They explore examples of good and bad customer service experiences, debunk myths about customer service, and provide strategies for improving customer service. They also discuss the concept of gold touch customer service and how it can be applied to internal customer service. The conversation concludes with insights on effective communication and developing a customer service mindset. Takeaways Chapters You can learn more about Micah and his book at MicahSolomon.com. Gift a Loved One a Head Start With Their Career Do you know someone who is in college or maybe recently graduated? My experience is there are a growing number of people who dread being asked the question, “So, what’s the plan?” When it comes to their career, they have no freaking idea! I bring this up because I want you to check out our new course entitled just that: No Freaking Idea: How to Navigate Career Uncertainty. It’s a career guide for people who don’t know what they want to do, and it has been so fun to hear the feedback on the course. Whether you are wondering about the next steps in your career or it's a son or daughter and you'd like to give them a head start as a gift, learn more by going to NoFreakingIdea.courses. Thanks! Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Power Skills The following music was used for this episode: Music: The Fantastical Ferret by Tim Kulig Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/12070-the-fantastical-ferret License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Fashion Corporate by Frank Schroeter Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/11233-fashion-corporate License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Summary In this episode, Andy Kaufman celebrates the 400th episode of the People in Projects Podcast with special guest Adam Grant. They discuss Adam's new book, Hidden Potential, and the importance of assessing and unlocking potential in individuals. The conversation covers various topics, including keeping projects on track, the truth about hiring based on experience, a lesson Adam learned about feedback that he's a terrible writer, and overcoming criticism. Adam reflects on the past and future, including what he misses (and doesn't miss) about being Adam Grant in 2010 (when Andy and Adam first talked). Takeaways You can learn more about Adam and his book at AdamGrant.net. For More on This Topic To catch Andy's previous conversations with Adam, check out: Episode 31Episode 93 Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Celebration 02:50 Start of the Interview 03:12 What are You Glad is Getting Attention / Thought Would Get More Attention in Your Book 03:52 Lessons on Keeping Projects on Track 04:46 Something People Think Is True But Is Not Supported With Evidence 05:45 How Adam Decides on Saying Yes or No 06:16 How Does Adam Calm Nerves 07:27 You Suck at Writing, Adam! How to Receive Feedback and Overcome Criticism 08:37 What Adam Recently Used a Chatbot For 09:26 What Does Adam Miss About Being Him in 2010 / Not Miss 10:26 What Would You Ask Future Adam? 11:39 Adam Takes Over as the Host 12:50 Adam Asks About Podcasting 14:07 Adam Says Nice Things About Andy 16:04 Andy Comments after the Interview 20:19 Outtakes from Before We Started the Interview 21:32 Sample Intro from Episode 1 (Man, it was bad!) Gift a Loved One a Head Start With Their Career Do you know someone who is in college or maybe recently graduated? My experience is there are a growing number of people who dread being asked the question, “So, what’s the plan?” When it comes to their career, they have no freaking idea! I bring this up because I want you to check out our new course entitled just that: No Freaking Idea: How to Navigate Career Uncertainty. It’s a career guide for people who don’t know what they want to do, and it has been so fun to hear the feedback on the course. Whether you are wondering about the next steps in your career or it's a son or daughter and you'd like to give them a head start as a gift, learn more by going to NoFreakingIdea.courses. Thanks! Thank you for joining me for this anniversary episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Power Skills The following music was used for this episode: Music: Celebrate Your Wins [Full version] by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10381-celebrate-your-wins-full-version License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Funky Life by WinnieTheMoog Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/6040-funky-life License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Summary In this conversation, Andy interviews Doug Lennick and Chuck Wachendorfer about their book Don't Wait for Someone Else to Fix It! They discuss the importance of managing ourselves effectively, practicing self-awareness, and mastering our behavior. They also emphasize the significance of integrity and responsibility in leadership. The conversation explores barriers to better decision-making and the importance of continuous learning. The interview concludes with insights on how parents can apply leadership lessons in their role at home. Takeaways You can learn more about Doug and Chuck and their work at Think2Perform.com. For More on This Topic For more on this topic, check out: Episode 391Episode 366Episode 292 Gift a Loved One a Head Start With Their Career Do you know someone who is in college or maybe recently graduated? My experience is there are a growing number of people who dread being asked the question, “So, what’s the plan?” When it comes to their career, they have no freaking idea! I bring this up because I want you to check out our new course entitled just that: No Freaking Idea: How to Navigate Career Uncertainty. It’s a career guide for people who don’t know what they want to do, and it has been so fun to hear the feedback on the course. Whether you are wondering about the next steps in your career or it's a son or daughter and you'd like to give them a head start as a gift, learn more by going to NoFreakingIdea.courses. Thanks! Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Power Skills The following music was used for this episode: Music: On Point by Steven OBrien Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/11694-on-point License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Synthiemania by Frank Schroeter Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/11809-synthiemania License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Project Manager Burnout There is so much focus these days on getting more done with less. Delivering faster. Increasing efficiency. Being excellent at work while rocking it all well at home too, right? And though I’m all for staying focused and productive, here’s something I’ve observed. One consequence of trying to stay hyper-productive and being everything you can possibly be--or feel like you should be--can be increased stress. Less downtime. More hours. More caffeine. Less sleep. And all of that can lead to burnout. So what can we do about that? Today I’m excited to introduce you to Dr. Neha Sangwan. She’s the author of a new book entitled Powered by Me: From Burned Out to Fully Charged at Work and in Life. In this episode, you’ll get a better idea of what leads to burnout, beyond just the typical drivers that come to mind, such as physical exhaustion. Neha provides practical ideas and techniques to help us catch when we’re starting to drift towards burnout. It's a discussion I've been looking forward to sharing with you! You can learn more about Neha and her work at NehaSangwan.com. For more on this topic, check out: Episodes 106132Episode 395Episode 397 Gift a Loved One a Head Start With Their Career Do you know someone who is in college or maybe recently graduated? My experience is there are a growing number of people who dread being asked the question, “So, what’s the plan?” When it comes to their career, they have no freaking idea! I bring this up because I want you to check out our new course entitled just that: No Freaking Idea: How to Navigate Career Uncertainty. It’s a career guide for people who don’t know what they want to do, and it has been so fun to hear the feedback on the course. Whether you are wondering about the next steps in your career or it's a son or daughter and you'd like to give them a head start as a gift, learn more by going to NoFreakingIdea.courses. Thanks! Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Power Skills The following music was used for this episode: Music: Summer Awakening by Frank Schroeter Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10912-summer-awakening License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Fashion Corporate by Frank Schroeter Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/11233-fashion-corporate License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

When Emotions Are Rising On Your Project Let’s say you’re sitting in a meeting tomorrow for a project you are leading. You’re looking to get sign-off and, based on the pre-meetings you had with key stakeholders, the meeting should go smoothly. But seemingly out of the blue, a key stakeholder speaks up and starts sharing objections. Right there in front of everyone, which includes your boss, by the way. Things are starting to derail and you can feel some anger starting to build up. If we could see a thought bubble over you, you might be saying, “I can’t believe they’re sabotaging this! They didn’t bring any of this up when we talked about it before the meeting! They’re throwing me and my project under the bus!” That’s a pivotal leadership moment right there. Maybe for you, it’s a demanding boss. Or a deeply emotional situation outside of work. The critical issue is this: How do we respond? Does it help, or do we make it worse? How do we navigate the emotional rollercoaster of leading teams and projects—and families and friendships? Our ability to do that can make an enormous difference in our careers and life. In this episode, we’re continuing a series of discussions on the topic of our emotions. And I’m excited to introduce you to Dr. Julia Digangi. For many years, Julia has worked with individuals who have endured the worst traumas, from survivors of domestic abuse to combat veterans, and helped them transform their energy and rise to powerful new heights. Based on her experience, she has recently published a remarkably insightful new book Energy Rising: The Neuroscience of Leading with Emotional Power. What I love about this book is that it gives a perspective on navigating the emotional challenges of our life in a way I’ve not seen in any other books. It’s deeply based in research and practice but it’s accessible to all of us, even if we don’t know our amygdala from our anterior cingulate cortex. Ha! You can learn more about Julia and her work at DrJuliaDigangi.com/. For more on this topic, check out: Episode 394Episode 395Episode 396 Gift a Loved One a Head Start With Their Career Do you know someone who is in college or maybe recently graduated? My experience is there are a growing number of people who dread being asked the question, “So, what’s the plan?” When it comes to their career, they have no freaking idea! I bring this up because I want you to check out our new course entitled just that: No Freaking Idea: How to Navigate Career Uncertainty. It’s a career guide for people who don’t know what they want to do, and it has been so fun to hear the feedback on the course. Whether you are wondering about the next steps in your career or it's a son or daughter and you'd like to give them a head start as a gift, learn more by going to NoFreakingIdea.courses. Thanks! Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Power Skills The following music was used for this episode: Music: Underground Shadows by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/12024-underground-shadows License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Energetic & Drive Indie Rock by WinnieTheMoog Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10443-energetic-drive-indie-rock License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Stop Saying You're a Perfectionist There’s a classic question that is often asked somewhere during a job interview: “So, what’s your biggest weakness?” Perhaps you’ve been asked that somewhere along your career journey. My favorite answer to that is from Michael Scott in the television show The Office: "I work too hard, I care too much, and sometimes I can be too invested in my job." Perfect, right? Oh wait. Did I say Perfect? I did. Because in a sense, the answer that Michael gave there is what a lot of us admit to being one of our biggest weaknesses: we struggle with being a perfectionist. It’s like one of those flaws that, when you admit it, people will knowingly tilt their head, nod, and say, “Yeah, I understand. Me too.” It’s a socially accepted flaw that we might even think has some hidden advantages in driving us to higher performance. But if you think that, you would be wrong--at least about the higher performance part. I know that because I read Thomas Curran’s new book The Perfection Trap: Embracing the Power of Good Enough. It’s a book that will challenge your thinking about perfectionism and, if you let it, begin to free you from the ways that it might be hurting you, your mental health, your relationships, and your performance far more than you realize. You can learn more about Thomas and his work at ThomCurran.com/. For more on this topic, check out: Episode 315Chatter Gift a Loved One a Head Start With Their Career Do you know someone who is in college or maybe recently graduated? My experience is there are a growing number of people who dread being asked the question, “So, what’s the plan?” When it comes to their career, they have no freaking idea! I bring this up because I want you to check out our new course entitled just that: No Freaking Idea: How to Navigate Career Uncertainty. It’s a career guide for people who don’t know what they want to do, and it has been so fun to hear the feedback on the course. Whether you are wondering about the next steps in your career or it's a son or daughter and you'd like to give them a head start as a gift, learn more by going to NoFreakingIdea.courses. Thanks! Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Power Skills The following music was used for this episode: Music: On Point by Steven OBrien Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/11694-on-point License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Synthiemania by Frank Schroeter Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/11809-synthiemania License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Your Power Barometer There is so much focus these days on optimizing our time, right? And though I’m all for staying focused and productive, here’s something I’ve observed: one consequence of trying to stay hyper-productive can be increased stress. Less downtime. More hours. More caffeine. Less sleep. And all of that can lead to burnout. A lot of us are leading lives and teams with batteries that are low on power. And that’s a losing proposition for all of us. In this episode, I’m excited to introduce you to Josefine Campbell, who is taking this problem head on. She’s a top executive coach, former jujitsu champion, and now the author of a new book entitled Power Barometer: Manage Personal Energy for Business Success. In this episode, you’ll learn about practical tools like the Energy Barometer and the Awareness Matrix. Josefine will explain how the opposite of professional is not personal—and why that matters. By the time we’re done, you’ll know how to detect if you’re starting to get hijacked and how to get out of it if you’re already there. And you’ll be in better shape to stay mentally agile, which is one of Josefine’s major messages in the book. I can’t wait to share this discussion with you. NOTE: As of the time of this episode was published, Josefine's book was not available for sale. My understanding is there is a change in distribution partners. But you can learn more about Josefine and the book's resources at JosefineCampbell.com/. For more on this topic, check out: Episode 106Eat Move SleepEpisode 132Are You Fully Charged? BTW, we're thankful for being listed in the top 100 management podcasts on FeedSpot! Gift a Loved One a Head Start With Their Career Do you know someone who is in college or maybe recently graduated? My experience is there are a growing number of people who dread being asked the question, “So, what’s the plan?” When it comes to their career, they have no freaking idea! I bring this up because we’re rolling out a new course entitled just that: No Freaking Idea: How to Navigate Career Uncertainty. It’s a career guide for people who don’t know what they want to do, and it has been so fun to hear the feedback on the course. Whether you are wondering about the next steps in your career or it's a son or daughter and you'd like to give them a head start as a gift, learn more by going to NoFreakingIdea.courses. Thanks! Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Power Skills The following music was used for this episode: Music: E.C.H.O by Alexander Nakarada Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9762-echo License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Funny by Frank Schroeter Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/11450-funny License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

What Is Emotional Intelligence, Really? You’ve heard of emotional intelligence, right? You know it’s important. But a lot of us haven’t had formal training on the topic--or maybe it’s been a while. In this episode, I’m excited to introduce you to Joshua Freedman, author of the international best-selling book At the Heart of Leadership: How to Get Results with Emotional Intelligence. Plenty of books can give you an academic understanding of emotional intelligence. But Joshua’s book is immensely practical. It focuses on how to help us navigate situations, like that project meeting, because our lives are filled with situations where the stakes are high with our emotions. And Joshua is here to help us with that. I can’t wait to share this discussion with you! Learn more about Joshua at JMFreedman.com/bio/. For more episodes on this topic, check out: Episode 148Negotiating the NonnegotiableEpisode 108Thanks for the FeedbackEpisode 185Leadership and Self-Deception Gift a Loved One a Head Start With Their Career Do you know someone who is in college or maybe recently graduated? My experience is there are a growing number of people who dread being asked the question, “So, what’s the plan?” When it comes to their career, they have no freaking idea! I bring this up because we’re rolling out a new course entitled just that: No Freaking Idea: How to Navigate Career Uncertainty. It’s a career guide for people who don’t know what they want to do, and it has been so fun to hear the feedback on the course. Whether you are wondering about next steps in your career or it's a son or daughter and you'd like to give them a head start as a gift, learn more by going to NoFreakingIdea.courses. Thanks! Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Power Skills The following music was used for this episode: Music: Colossus by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10494-colossus License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Tropical Vibe by WinnieTheMoog Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10446-tropical-vibe License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Inspiring Women in Project Management Most days, you can find me working with a group of people, helping them learn how to improve their ability to lead and deliver. If you’ve listened to this podcast for a while, you may recall hearing me saying this previously--in our project management courses, the majority of participants are women. It’s characteristic of a trend we see week in and week out—project management is a rewarding and accessible career path for women to pursue. Because of that, I like to highlight women who are inspiring role models, particularly when it comes to leading teams and delivering projects. And in this episode, I’m excited to introduce you to my friend and colleague Molly Beran, who fits that description perfectly. Molly has not only spent extended time in the trenches, learning how to lead and deliver. Over the last couple of years, she’s also been a valued member of my speaking team. And she has expertly taught some of our biggest clients how to improve their ability to lead and deliver. This episode is a conversation between friends who equally geek out about project management and leadership. I look forward to you hearing some of the lessons that Molly has learned about these topics--I know you’re going to enjoy this. Learn more about Molly at ProjectsByMolly.com. Also, get your copy of (or give it as a gift) From Vision to Vows: Project Management Strategies for Weddings here. No Freaking Idea! Do you know someone who is in college or maybe recently graduated? My experience is there are a growing number of people who dread being asked the question, “So, what’s the plan?” When it comes to their career, they have no freaking idea! I bring this up because we’re rolling out a new course entitled just that: No Freaking Idea: How to Navigate Career Uncertaity. It’s a career guide for people who don’t know what they want to do, and it has been so fun to hear the feedback on the course. Whether it’s you who is wondering about next steps in your career or a son or daughter and you'd like to give them this as a gift, learn more by going to NoFreakingIdea.courses. Thanks! Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Business Acumen The following music was used for this episode: Music: Brooklyn Nights by Tim Kulig Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/11192-brooklyn-nights License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Quantum Sparks [Full version] by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10996-quantum-sparks-full-version License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Leading In The Age of Deep Expertise Not everyone aspires to be a VP or higher someday, nor should they. But could it be that some of us are held back because the deep expertise that got us to our current position isn’t what is needed to get to additional levels of responsibility? Or, if that additional responsibility is given to us anyway, we struggle to thrive because the skills to succeed at that next level are different from what we’re used to? I think so, which is why I’m excited to introduce you to Wanda T. Wallace. Wanda is the author of an insightful book You Can't Know It All: Leading in the Age of Deep Expertise. In this episode, you’re going to hear Wanda describe the difference between being an expert leader vs a spanning leader. She’ll explain how the way we add value is different when we’re a spanning leader. Wanda will talk about how to deal with mistakes--both when others make them as well as when we do. She’ll talk about how to better deal with ambiguity that comes along with greater responsibility as well as how to develop trust across a boarder base of people. Before we’re done Wanda will talk about executive presence and share some advice specifically for women. It’s an engaging discussion with someone who specializes in helping women and men get to the top, stick, and thrive. Learn more about Wanda and her book at Leadership-Forum.com/wanda-wallace. For more episodes on this topic, check out: Episode 75Do NothingEpisode 122Episode 125Rookie Smarts No Freaking Idea! Do you know someone who is in college or maybe recently graduated? My experience is there are a growing number of people who dread being asked the question, “So, what’s the plan?” When it comes to their career, they have no freaking idea! I bring this up because we’re rolling out a new course entitled just that: No Freaking Idea: How to Navigate Career Uncertaity. It’s a career guide for people who don’t know what they want to do, and it has been so fun to hear the feedback on the course. Whether it’s you who is wondering about next steps in your career or a son or daughter and you'd like to give them this as a gift, learn more by going to NoFreakingIdea.courses. Thanks! Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Power Skills The following music was used for this episode: Music: Cinematic Suspense Series Episode 008 by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/7669-cinematic-suspense-series-episode-008 License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Energetic & Drive Indie Rock by WinnieTheMoog Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10443-energetic-drive-indie-rock License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Do You Really Want to Lead? Making the leap to leadership can be one of the most rewarding--and challenging--moves we can make. And I’m excited in this episode to bring you what I think is the best guide I’ve come across to date on how to make that jump. Adam Bryant joins us to talk about his new book The Leap to Leader: How Ambitious Managers Make the Jump to Leadership. In this episode, you’ll learn the first question you should be asking about leadership--and why it’s important. Adam shares a practical tool he calls a Leadership User Manual--I’m telling you, you’re going to want to create one of these after listening to this. He discusses why a career pyramid might be a better metaphor than a ladder. Along the way you’ll hear why you should learn to merge into traffic and go play in the traffic! And why some of the most valuable leadership lessons are playing out before your eyes every day. It’s a conversation I can’t wait to share with you. Learn more about Adam and his book at AdamBryantBooks.com/the-leap-to-leader/. For more episodes related to this topic, check out: Episode 360Episode 307Episode 261 No Freaking Idea! Do you know someone who is in college or maybe recently graduated? My experience is there are a growing number of people who dread being asked the question, “So, what’s the plan?” When it comes to their career, they have no freaking idea! I bring this up because we’re rolling out a new course entitled just that: No Freaking Idea: How to Navigate Career Uncertaity. It’s a career guide for people who don’t know what they want to do, and it has been so fun to hear the feedback on the course. Whether it’s you who is wondering about next steps in your career or a son or daughter and you'd like to give them this as a gift, learn more by going to NoFreakingIdea.courses. Thanks! Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Power Skills The following music was used for this episode: Music: Imagefilm 034 by Sascha Ende Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/2935-imagefilm-034 License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Another Good Day by chilledmusic Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/8397-another-good-day License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license