Navigating Interpersonal Skills in Project Management

In this episode, Andy welcomes Corinna Freitag, a coach and project practitioner, to discuss the importance of interpersonal skills in project management. They explore how to navigate workplace conflicts, the significance of understanding others, and the role of Lean Six Sigma in project management.

Corinna shares her experiences and insights on coaching STEM professionals, particularly those who may struggle with communication and conflict resolution. The conversation emphasizes the need for emotional intelligence and adaptability in leadership roles. Andy and Corinna delve into the significance of breathing techniques for mental well-being, the importance of understanding cultural differences in professional settings, the challenges of self-sabotage, and the continuous journey of personal development.

Do you ever dread going to work on Monday morning? Corinna has practical insights in this episode for you!

• "I had the limiting belief that I am not good with people. And… surprise. Yes. Looks like I am."
• "There is no magic question. It’s about starting to understand the person, not finding the perfect script."
• "If you say, 'This is my saboteur talking,' it’s very different than saying, 'I’m not good enough.'"
• "Assume good intent. To them, their behavior is rational--even if it doesn’t seem that way to you."
• "We never interact with a culture. We interact with a person."
• "My top saboteurs? The Stickler, the Hyper-Achiever, and the Hyper-Vigilant."
• "If you merge a little American boldness with German perfectionism, something great comes out."

• 00:00 Introduction
• 01:30 Start of Interview
• 01:50 Corinna's Backstory
• 03:35 Project Management Lessons Corinna Has Learned
• 06:10 Lean Six Sigma and Project Management
• 10:02 Handling Difficult Stakeholders and Conflicts
• 13:52 Coaching Introverted STEM Professionals
• 17:31 Regaining Composure in Stressful Situations
• 21:05 Exploring Breathing Techniques
• 23:30 Lessons About Working Across Cultures
• 28:30 Overcoming Self-Sabotage
• 31:31 Continuous Self-Development
• 32:42 Connecting with Corinna
• 33:18 End of Interview
• 33:38 Andy's Comments After the Interview

You can connect and follow Corinna on LinkedIn at LinkedIn.com/in/DrCorinnaFreitag. And check out her website at CorinnaFreitag.de/.

For more learning on this topic, check out:

• Episode 397 with Dr. Julia DiGangi about her book Energy Rising. It's a wonderful book and discussion!
• Episode 164 with Derek Rogers and Nick Petrie about their book on stress.
• Episode 143 with Dr. Mark Goulston about his book on dealing with difficult people.

Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast!

Talent Triangle: Power Skills

Topics: Leadership, Project Management, Coaching, Conflict Resolution, Lean Six Sigma, STEM professionals, Interpersonal Skills, Stakeholder Management, Communication, Culture, Emotional Intelligence, Cross-cultural Communication

The following music was used for this episode:

Music: Imagefilm034 by Sascha Ende License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Music: Tropical Vibe by WinnieTheMoog License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license