People, Process, Progress with Kevin Pannell

In this first Faith in Action Friday episode, Lessons in Faith from Viktor Frankl, I share how Viktor Frankl’s experience in the worst human conditions helped me reconnect with my own faith. Not religion, not routine, but real faith in meaning, faith in people, and faith in myself. Frankl’s story reminds us that even when everything is taken from us, we still have the power to choose our response. In this short reflection, we explore people, process, and progress through the lens of faith and consider where a little trust could lighten the load we carry. Key Points: Listener consideration: Where in your life have you been carrying the weight alone when a little faith could lighten the load? Closing message:

When a project starts to slip, silence is the real risk. In this episode, Kevin Pannell shares how to escalate early, run real-time retros, and rebuild the plan using the KISS method, keeping it simple and strategic. Learn how to make escalation collaborative, protect team trust, and turn failure into alignment. Based on the Progress section of The People, Process, and Progress of Project Management.

In 1985, forty-six of the biggest names in music walked into a studio on Sunset Boulevard after the American Music Awards. No press, no leaks, just purpose. We Are the World was not just a song, it was a project. A one-night mission to create something that would feed millions of people suffering from famine in Africa. In this episode of People, Process, Progress, Kevin revisits the story he first explored in a March 2024 Hope is NOT a Plan episode, this time through the lens of leadership, culture, and the Seven Project Pillars. Through the calm and clarity of Quincy Jones and the creativity of Lionel Richie, this team turned ego into empathy and chaos into collaboration. You will learn how thought leadership, intentional communication, and structured coordination helped them pull off one of the greatest overnight projects in history, and how those same lessons apply to your projects and teams today. Episode Quote: “Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie did not lead through control, they led through trust, and they showed us that people will rise to the mission when the purpose is clear and the tone is right.”

In The Right People on the Bus, I share how a Nick Saban clip popped up in my algorithm this week, and it hit home. His message about getting the right people on the bus, and the wrong people off, speaks directly to project leadership. As project managers, we build our own teams every day, and success depends on who is on board, how we support them, and when we recognize it is time for someone to move on. In this episode, I share what Saban’s philosophy means for project teams: how to foster high performers, coach those who need direction, and help those who are ready to get off at their own stop. Leadership is about alignment, accountability, and care, not control. ???? Takeaway: Make every effort to keep everyone on the bus, but recognize when it is time for someone to find a different route. ???? Learn more about my books and podcast at https://peopleprocessprogress.com ???? The Stability Equation: 7 Pillars for a More Balanced Life ???? The People, Process, and Progress of Project Management ????️ Own your mind, move your body, anchor your spirit.

In Build the Sidewalk Where People Already Walk, we explore what happens when project teams design based on real behavior instead of assumptions. Drawing from a Lean Coffee discussion and PMI’s survey findings that the customer is the ultimate indicator of success, this episode challenges leaders to define “done” through the eyes of the end user. Kevin shares how observation, empathy, and feedback lead to better requirements, stronger outcomes, and lasting trust. Learn how to build projects that people actually use and appreciate.

We already know what to do and what not to do in our lives, but when our intent drifts, so does our progress. This Focus Friday builds on When Strategy Fails: Fix the Intent Gap by combining principles from The Stability Equation and The People, Process, and Progress of Project Management to help you reset your intent, align your people and process, and move forward with purpose.

Most failed strategies don’t collapse because of evil plans or poor execution. They fail because the intent behind them was never clear. In this episode of People, Process, Progress, I unpack what I call the Intent Gap: the disconnect between leadership vision and team understanding. Drawing from The People, Process, and Progress of Project Management, I share how defining intent early gives teams direction, how to test for alignment, and how to fix the gap before it derails execution. If your projects feel busy but not aligned, this episode will help you rebuild clarity and momentum from the top down. Dive deeper in the book at https://a.co/d/eQKtRpI

One week ago I was crawling because I couldn’t walk. The pain reminded me of when a back injury led to discovering my kidney cancer. I panicked, then focused on my breath and what I could do with what I had. In Build Resilience Ahead of Time Not During the Emergency, I share how preparation, mindfulness, and PACE planning help us recover faster in life, leadership, and project management.

In this Focus Friday episode, Lead Early, Not Respond Later, I share a leadership lesson from the 2015 UCI Road World Cycling Championships, where I waited too long to give clear direction to the Resource Unit team checking in hundreds of first responders. By the time I acted, frustration had already built up, but once I owned it, spoke with the site lead, and led a layout change that separated check-in from briefings, we streamlined the process and made the operation safer. The experience taught me that leadership happens before the problem, not after. Lead early, not later.

In this episode, Program and Portfolio Leadership Under Pressure: Building Clarity and Confidence at Scale, Kevin Pannell shares how executive leaders can bring calm, clarity, and confidence to complex programs and portfolios. Learn how to think strategically, mentor effectively, and build operational excellence that drives lasting results. Key takeaways: Books and resources at peopleprocessprogress.com These are my thoughts and experiences and do not represent any current or previous employers. Own your mind, move your body, anchor your spirit, and keep making progress.

Grief shows up uninvited, and it doesn’t leave on our timeline. But we can own how we respond. In this Reset Friday episode, Owning Your Response to Grief, of People, Process, Progress, I share tools that helped me face grief and keep moving forward: journaling, routines, connection, and honoring those we’ve lost.

In this Reset Friday road edition, Kevin reflects on the importance of sharing what we know instead of keeping it bottled up. Too often, knowledge, skills, and experience leave with us when we move on from a job, a team, or even life itself. Mentorship—formal or informal—is how we make sure others don’t have to start from scratch. Kevin shares examples from the workplace, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and fitness to illustrate how anyone can be a mentor, whether by giving pointers, offering structure, or simply encouraging someone to start. Whether you’re brand new or seasoned, you have something to offer. The challenge is simple: How are YOU mentoring others today? ???? Learn more in Kevin’s books: ???? Own your mind, move your body, anchor your spirit.

We live in a time where more information does not always mean more clarity. In this episode of People, Process, Progress, I share how leaders, project managers, and parents can filter the flood of information and focus on what matters. We will cover why people need direction not noise, how to set critical information requirements for work and home, and how progress is made by responding with purpose instead of reacting to every ping.

In this Reset Friday, Kevin Pannell shares how one jack rabbit can spook a herd of sheep and how the same happens to us when fear, rumors, or groupthink take over. Drawing from Deuteronomy 32:30 and Joyce Meyer’s 15 Minutes in the Word, Kevin shows how this plays out at work, in politics, in church, and at home, then offers three ways to stay steady: mindfulness, ownership, and connection.

Season 7, Episode 5 of People, Process, Progress, Why People, Process, Progress Matters Now, looks at how this week’s tragedies, a young man’s murder, another school shooting, and police officers killed in the line of duty, mirror the same disconnect we see in our workplaces. I share how the 7 Project Pillars can guide us not just in projects, but in our lives and communities, helping us re-engage with each other and move progress forward together. These lessons are about more than management; they are about rebuilding trust where it matters most.

Saying yes to everything is one of the fastest ways to end up burned out and unfocused. In this short Reset Friday: Boundaries Before Burnout, I share a practical way to protect your energy and set boundaries that actually stick. Learn how to use one simple reset phrase to stay aligned with your priorities and show up better for the people who matter most.

In 2023, nearly 12,300 Black Americans were victims of homicide, accounting for more than half of all U.S. homicide deaths while making up just 13.7% of the population. This ad hoc episode was prompted by the murder of Charlie Kirk and by some challenging questions from someone I respect about why the deaths of thousands of African Americans are not called out with the same urgency. In this episode, "Facing the Numbers, Asking the Hard Questions," I examine the numbers, explore why some lives spark national outrage while others pass quietly, and highlight proven solutions that communities are using to reduce violence. Silence is not an option.

Most team problems come from unclear direction, not a lack of effort. In this episode, I share three practical tools: Leader’s Intent, a clear Definition of Done, and SMART objectives that bring clarity and speed to any project. You will hear a real example of how alignment turned a drifting team into one that delivered with confidence. For more tools and "How to" get The People, Process, & Progress of Project Management on Amazon at https://a.co/d/4zpt5pz and visit the peopleprocessprogress.com website.

I’m kicking off a new weekly series called Reset Friday. Each Friday, I’ll share a short, practical way to reset your mind, body, and spirit. These episodes aren’t long lectures. They’re tools you can put into practice right away. For our first Reset Friday, I’m sharing what I call the Trifecta of Recovery: Wim Hof breathing, yoga, and the cold plunge. Breathing primes your nervous system, yoga centers your body, and cold exposure builds resilience and focus. Together, they form a reset you can feel. Take a listen, and then try one of the three this weekend. You might be surprised at how much better you feel.

September is a natural time to reset. In this episode, I share how I slipped on my own pillar maintenance and used reflection, family time, and a simple framework of People, Process, and Progress to get back on track. You will learn how balance does not come from perfection, but from correction and intentional resets, and how you can apply this principle in your own life and work.