Project Management Happy Hour

Sheila Morago, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association, offers insights from her career in high-stakes negotiations. She shares how to manage big personalities and build trust among senior stakeholders. Discover her tactical advice on creating a safe space for discussion and the importance of listening. Sheila emphasizes the need for a policy-first approach before tech implementation and explores strategies like allowing venting to control the conversation. Get ready for valuable lessons in emotional intelligence and negotiation tactics!

Norlander Wilson, an experimental psychologist and CEO of Becoma, dives deep into the complexities of workplace burnout. She shares her personal struggles, highlighting the dangers of 'performative functioning' that many experience before a collapse. Norlander emphasizes the importance of recognizing leadership's role in fostering burnout culture and suggests practical strategies like capacity check-ins and setting boundaries. With insights on prioritizing values over money and recovery practices, she offers a roadmap to healthier work environments.

Ever freeze up in a tough project conversation? Or worse—blow it up? In this episode of Project Management Happy Hour, Kim and Kate revisit their all-time favorite: Crucial Conversations by the team at VitalSmarts (now Crucial Learning). This book completely changed how they lead, negotiate, and manage conflict. Learn how to spot when a conversation turns "crucial," stay in dialogue instead of defensiveness, and use "don't-do statements" and "start with heart" to navigate conflict like a pro. We're not sponsored—just obsessed. If you lead projects or people, this book will change your life. 🍸 Pull up a stool at the bar—here's what we're talking about this round: 🍸 Every project manager has been there: a stakeholder meltdown, a team standoff, or that one sponsor meeting where your pulse hits 200. The question is—what do you do when the conversation turns crucial? In this PM Happy Hour throwback, Kate and Kim revisit one of their most popular and enduring episodes—based on the book Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High by the VitalSmarts team (now Crucial Learning). They aren't paid to say this—but this book changed their lives and careers. Seventeen years after Kate's colleague first handed her this book, they still call it "the single most important leadership book for project managers." Forget the PMBOK—start here if you want to build trust, executive presence, and influence. You'll learn how to: Recognize when a conversation becomes crucial: differing opinions, high stakes, and strong emotions. Avoid the "fool's choice"—the false belief that you must choose between honesty and peace. Create a shared pool of meaning, so everyone's ideas and emotions contribute to better decisions. Use "Start With Heart" to keep your cool and focus on what you really want—for yourself, others, and the relationship. Apply "Don't-Do Statements" to set boundaries, de-escalate tension, and build empathy. From team conflicts to sponsor negotiations, this episode gives you practical, human ways to talk about hard things—and actually make things better. Kim and Kate share real-world examples from project meetings, resource battles, and even personal life to show how dialogue beats defensiveness every time. And they're not just quoting theory. Crucial Conversations is built on decades of behavioral research and communication psychology—and it's as relevant today as ever. Whether you manage projects, programs, or entire teams, mastering these techniques can level up your leadership, reduce drama, and get you promoted faster. 📚 Get the Book: Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, and Al Switzler Available anywhere books are sold (we're not sponsored—we just love it). JOIN THE HAPPY HOUR! Want even more? Join us at pmhappyhour.com/membership to get PDUsfor episodes, downloadable templates, access to our PM community, and 1:1 time with Kim and Kate.

Dave Garrett, a Senior Advisor at the Project Management Institute and co-founder of ProjectManagement.com, challenges traditional views on project success. He highlights PMI's new focus on delivering value over merely meeting the iron triangle of scope, schedule, and budget. Dave introduces the M.O.R.E. framework, which emphasizes managing perceptions, owning success, relentlessly reassessing priorities, and expanding perspectives. He shares insights from his early career and argues for an agile approach, urging project managers to engage stakeholders for better alignment and measurable outcomes.

Ever been dropped into a troubled project that's already gone off the rails? Welcome to life as "The Wolf." Inspired by the fixer from Pulp Fiction, Kim and Kate revisit one of our most popular episodes—now a PMI Global talk! —and break down how to step in, take charge, and rescue a broken project without losing your cool. Kim shares his new 3-part formula for project recovery: People first – You aren't just fixing a plan, you're fixing an organization. Calm – Calm is contagious, and you can only control yourself. Clarity & Courage – Seek out misalignment, bring truth to light, and have the guts to ask, "Does this project still make sense?" Of course, Kate keeps Kim honest, adding the perspective (and laughs) that make the tough lessons go down easy. If you've ever been handed a project that feels unsalvageable, this episode is your playbook. 👉 Want even more? Join us at pmhappyhour.com/membership to get PDU certificates for episodes, downloadable templates, access to our PM community, and 1:1 time with Kim and Kate.

Why bother with risk management when you can just deal with problems as they happen? In this episode, Kim and Kate dig into the heart of that question—and the answer might just save your future self a world of pain. You'll hear: Hard-hitting stats: 1 in 6 projects go 200% over budget (Harvard Business Review), 17% of major IT projects threaten company survival (McKinsey), and why 69% of projects don't succeed. Firefighting vs. fire prevention: why controlled burns (boring, thankless prep) prevent disasters while the "heroes" just put out fires. ROI of risk management: the surprising 20:1 return on time spent planning versus cleaning up issues later. Language hacks: how swapping "risks" for "obstacles" (credit to Dr. Josh Ramirez) can get your team—and executives—on board. Practical techniques: from whiteboarding failure points to slicing your project into risk categories, simple ways to start risk management without drowning in templates. Whether you're a seasoned PM or just tired of project disasters, this episode shows why risk management isn't about doom and gloom—it's about giving future you a fighting chance. JOIN THE HAPPY HOUR! Get access to all podcasts, PDU certificates, bonus content, exclusive member Q&A webinars and more from our membership! https://pmhappyhour.com/membership

This discussion dives into the challenges of closing projects, especially when stakeholders hesitate to provide approval. Insights reveal the importance of established processes and quality data for successful closures. The emotional journey of clients during project completion is explored, with an emphasis on clear communication and success criteria. Listeners learn about strategic techniques like 'soft handoffs' to enhance collaboration and prevent misunderstandings. The talk also touches on complexities in agile environments and the necessity of defined completion standards.

Finish strong! Learn how the end of a project can define its legacy. The hosts discuss why recent problems overshadow past wins and how success can be redefined based on outcomes. They share real stories and practical strategies for keeping stakeholders focused on value, especially during bumpy rides. Discover the importance of crafting a project’s conclusion and using tools like storytelling to enhance communication. A strong finish may redeem challenges, while a weak one can tarnish achievements.

Executives can unleash requests that make project managers cringe, like revamping projects almost at the finish line. The hosts share a five-part strategy to counter these requests while keeping project goals intact. A humorous role-play involving Darth Vader showcases the balance between project constraints and executive whims. Their insights evolve, highlighting the importance of empathy and understanding behind each ask. Plus, listeners can look forward to an exciting new PMP exam prep course!

Kickoff meetings can make or break a project! The hosts delve into how to structure these crucial gatherings for maximum alignment among stakeholders. They share key questions to promote engagement and ensure everyone is on the same page. Discover the importance of executive sponsorship in fostering trust and motivation. Plus, learn about using RAID logs to document decisions and navigate potential misalignments. Clear communication at the start lays the groundwork for project success!