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People and Projects Podcast: Project Management Podcast

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Jan 30, 2025 • 47min

PPP 446 | Why Some Leaders Inspire--and Others Drain the Life Out of Their Teams, with Adam Galinsky

Summary In this conversation, Andy talks with Adam Galinsky about his new book Inspire: The Universal Path for Leading Yourself and Others. Adam discusses the elements that make a leader truly inspiring, debunking the myth that inspirational qualities are innate rather than developed. The conversation covers Adam's Inspiring Trifecta (being visionary, an exemplar, and a mentor) along with the leader amplification effect. Additionally, they explore actionable strategies from Adam's research, including the importance of perspective-taking, the impact of the leader amplification commitment, and techniques for improving self-awareness and daily practices for sustained inspiration. Looking for practical advice to inspire those around you? This episode is for you! Sound Bites “It’s not, ‘Are you inspiring or infuriating?’ It’s, ‘Are you currently inspiring or infuriating?” “Your passion can become their passion. Your calmness in a crisis can become their calmness. But on the flip side, your anxiety can become their anxiety.” “Never tell someone, ‘We need to talk,’ without telling them why.” “What if every single morning, over a cup of coffee, you sent one email just thanking someone for something they did?” “Shame turns us into ostriches. Guilt moves us toward action.” “To be visionary, you don’t need to be loud—you need to be clear.” “Your leadership isn’t just what you say—it’s what people see.” “The question isn’t ‘Are you a great leader?’ The question is, ‘What are you doing right now that makes you one?” Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:37 Start Of Interview 01:45 What Inspired You To Get Into Psychology? 02:51 What Are Some Common Myths About Inspiration? 03:49 Do You Have to Be Extroverted to Be Inspiring? 05:51 What's The Difference Between Inspiring and Infuriating Leaders? 08:48 Why You Should Never Say "We Need to Talk" 13:45 What Is the Leader Amplification Effect? 19:07 How Can I Better Get Someone Else's Perspective? 22:59 How Does Adam Overcome Feeling Insecure? 25:21 What's The Role of Self-Talk In Helping Us Be Inspiring? 29:15 How Does Ranking Our Values Help? 30:56 How Does Adam Practice Being Inspiring (Introduction to REAP) 32:43 Advice for Parents 36:11 End Of Interview 36:34 Andy Comments After The Interview 42:11 Outtakes Learn More You can learn more about Adam and his work at AdamGalinsky.com. For more learning on this topic, check out: Episodes 416 and 153 with Jim Kouzes about leadership. Episode 362 with Ayelet Fishbach about her book on motivation. Episode 94 with Heidi Grant and Torry Higgins about their work on motivation. Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Power Skills Topics: Inspiration, Leadership, Communication, Self-Awareness, Emotional Intelligence, Parenting, Project Management The following music was used for this episode: Music: Echo by Alexander Nakarada 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
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Jan 23, 2025 • 40min

PPP 445 | Unlocking the Power of Productive Failure, with Manu Kapur

Summary In this conversation, Andy interviews Manu Kapur about his book Productive Failure: Unlocking Deeper Learning Through the Science of Failing. They explore the concept of learning through failure and how it can be intentionally designed to enhance understanding and retention. They discuss the importance of context in learning and the science behind memory. Manu and Andy discuss practical strategies for effective learning, particularly in relation to project management and certification exams. Manu introduces the notion of productive failure and its significance in the learning process. He emphasizes the importance of engaging with challenges, understanding the four A's of learning, and applying these principles in real-world scenarios. Manu even shares some ideas for how parents can help their kids reframe how they look at failure. Want to improve your memory? Learn faster? This episode is for you! Sound Bites “If you want to remember, try forgetting a little so that you can use forgetting to remember.” “Why do we wait for failure to happen instead of designing for it deliberately and intentionally?” “Learning doesn’t just happen when you succeed—it’s the failure signal that tells you you’re in the right place to grow.” “Knowledge gets coupled with the context, the smells, and the sights in which you’re learning it.” “If everything in your life has a success signal, don’t be too happy—chances are you’re playing it too safe.” “We should totally change how we introduce ourselves at parties: guess each other’s names!” Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:31 Start Of Interview 03:55 Understanding Productive Failure 05:22 The Problems of Learning: Remembering, Understanding, and Transfer 08:58 The Theory of Disuse 11:39 The Fascinating Concept of Situated Cognition 16:00 Why Getting Questions Wrong Helps You Learn 20:34 Understanding the Zone of Proximal Development 23:06 Designing for Productive Failure 28:33 Applying Failure Concepts in Parenting 32:12 End Of Interview 32:34 Andy Comments After The Interview 37:52 Outtakes Learn More You can learn more about Manu and his work at ManuKapur.com. For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 15 with Ralph Heath about his book on celebrating failure. Episode 432 with Ross Garland regarding why projects fail. Episode 116 with Jim Johnson for another discussion about why projects fail. Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Power Skills Topics: Productive Failure, Learning, Memory, Project Management, Education, Teaching, Zone Of Proximal Development, Innovation 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: Synthiemania by Frank Schroeter License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
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Jan 18, 2025 • 32min

PPP 444 | Negotiating Secrets for Project Managers, with Rick Czaplewski

Summary In this episode, Andy interviews Rick Czaplewski, who discusses the intersection of project management and negotiation. They explore the importance of negotiation skills for project managers, the significance of building strong relationships with stakeholders, and strategies for dealing with difficult stakeholders. Rick shares personal experiences, including lessons learned from being a cancer survivor, and emphasizes the importance of taking action when delivering bad news. The conversation concludes with advice on teaching negotiation skills to the next generation. Want to improve your ability to negotiate more confidently? This episode is for you! Sound Bites "Project management is a verb. It's an action sport. We're on offense. We have the ball." "You want to put out fires as a project manager when they're small campfires before they're raging infernos." "If you're in control of yourself, you're in control of the situation." "It's okay if you hear the word no." "Take that feeling of 'I’m not willing to walk away with a loss' and hang in there." "Negotiation isn’t just a skill; it’s a mindset that transforms projects." Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:18 Start Of Interview 01:40 Rick's Career Journey 03:25 Why Negotiating Skills Are Critical for Project Managers 05:30 How We Can Accidentally Set Up Negotiations to Fail 08:05 How To Deal With Difficult Stakeholders 12:50 Common Mistakes Delivering Bad News 17:05 What If Someone Thinks They're Not a Good Negotiator? 20:20 How Has Surviving Cancer Shaped Your Perspective? 23:00 How Can Parents Help Their Kids Become Better Negotiators? 26:46 End Of Interview 27:05 Andy Comments After The Interview 30:13 Outtakes Learn More You can learn more about Rick and his work at NoOneWalksAlone.com. Also, please leave us feedback about this episode at Talk.ac/rickc?code=PEOPLE. For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 412 with hostage negotiator Scott Walker. Episode 365 with Christie Hunter Arscott about her book for women. Episode 258 with Kari Mirabal about You Already Have the No. Episode 148 with Daniel Shapiro, founder of the Harvard International Program on Negotiation. Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Power Skills Topics: Negotiation, Project Management, Stakeholder Management, Communication Skills, Leadership, Cancer Survivor, Relationship Building, Delivering Bad News, Negotiation Skills, Personal Growth 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: Chillhouse by Frank Schroeter License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
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Jan 4, 2025 • 42min

PPP 443 | Finding Mentors and Hidden Leadership Lessons, with Scott Millson

Scott Millson, author of "Frequency of Excellence," dives into the significance of lifelong learning and mentorship. He shares how ADHD is his superpower, enhancing his ability to focus and thrive. Millson highlights the difference between excellence and perfection, noting that excellence motivates while perfection can be stifling. He discusses the idea of inattentional blindness and how mentors can profoundly shape our lives. With practical advice on public speaking and family values, he emphasizes that every challenge can be a chance for growth.
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Dec 31, 2024 • 38min

PPP 442 | The Coaching Shortcut That Transforms Teams, with Dominic Ashley-Timms

Summary In this episode, Andy discusses the challenges and benefits of being a project manager or team leader with guest Dominic Ashley-Timms, co-author of the book The Answer is a Question: The Missing Superpower that Changes Everything and Will Transform Your Impact as a Manager and Leader. Dominic introduces the STAR model, a framework designed to enhance management effectiveness through operational coaching, and explains the concept of Frankenstein managers. They also delve into the importance of triggers, anchors, and asking better questions to foster growth and problem-solving within teams. The discussion highlights practical applications of the STAR model and its potential to transform leadership impact both professionally and personally. What if coaching wasn't something you put on the calendar? What if you could recognize coaching moments in the day-to-day activity of work and life? This episode shows you how to do that. Sound Bites “Most of us are Frankenstein managers.” “Stop, think, ask, and secure a result—that's the STAR model in action.” "The hardest part of coaching? Catching yourself and biting your lip.” “Is this a coachable moment? If not now, then when?” “A simple question can turn a two-hour supplier meeting into a seven-hour collaboration that saves millions.” “People might thank you for advice you never gave—just the right questions you asked.” “Changing your management style isn’t about a lifetime—it starts with two weeks of asking better questions.” “Pre-live moments to break the cycle of overreaction.” Chapters 00:00 Introduction 02:53 Start Of Interview 03:00 What are Frankenstein Managers? 07:17 Introducing the STAR Model 09:59 Triggers and Anchors: Tools for Behavioral Change 17:04 The Skill of Asking Questions 18:00 Identifying Coachable Moments 21:05 Crafting Effective Questions 24:40 Example Scenarios 26:12 How Parents Can Apply The Learning 28:40 End Of Interview 29:06 Andy's Comments After The Interview 31:54 Outtakes Learn More You can learn more about Dominic and Laura and their book at TheAnswerIsAQuestion.com. For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 150 with Michael Bungay Stanier about his book The Coaching Habit. It's a perfect compliment to this book! Episode 297 with Glain Roberts-McCabe about her book on coaching communities. 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 Topics: Leadership, Coaching, Management, Parenting, Personal Development, Communication, Team Management The following music was used for this episode: Music: The Fantastical Ferret 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 YouTube clip: “Brian Regan Stand-Up” The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Link: YouTube.com/watch?v=LWm9Em2rwD4
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14 snips
Dec 23, 2024 • 34min

PPP 441 | Mastering the Human Side of Project Management, with Michaela Flick

Michaela Flick, a project management practitioner and author of three books, dives into the essential human element of managing projects. She emphasizes the importance of empathy and communication in leadership, arguing that successful projects are built on strong relationships, not just technical skills. Michaela shares insights from her career transitions and the balance between work and personal life. She also highlights the natural project management talents of children through her forthcoming book about a little dragon. Discover how these insights can transform your approach to project management!
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Oct 25, 2024 • 44min

PPP 440 | Imposter Syndrome: Moving Beyond Self-Doubt, with Kelli Thompson

Summary In this discussion, Andy welcomes leadership coach and author Kelli Thompson to discuss her book Closing the Confidence Gap: Boost Your Peace, Your Potential, and Your Paycheck. The conversation explores topics such as the imposter syndrome, the importance of taking action despite self-doubt, and differentiating confidence from arrogance. Kelli shares practical strategies for building confidence by aligning decisions with personal values and eliminating elements that cause resentment. The discussion delves into the concept of 'expensive thoughts' and ways to transform them into freeing actions, with a focus on overcoming procrastination and self-doubt. If you'd like some practical ways to overcome self-doubt, this is a discussion you don't want to miss! Sound Bites “The cost of doubting ourselves can be far more expensive than we realize.” “What would you do if you had more confidence?” "Confidence is a side effect of taking action.” “The two most expensive words in our language are ‘but first.’” “If you don’t know what you stand for, what will you fall for?” “There’s a healthy level of doubt that is part of confidence—it keeps you from coming across as a cocky leader.” “You can’t criticize yourself into more confidence.” “Facts ease fear. Name the lie, insert the truth.” Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:33 Start Of Interview 01:44 What Would You Do If You Had More Confidence? 02:55 What Are Some Nuances That Can Make Confidence Tricky? 06:13 It's Not 'When' You're Confident As Much As 'When' You Are (Or Are Not) 07:09 Values And Confidence 10:00 Values Are Not 'Shoulds' 11:59 The 'But First' Syndrome 14:25 Doubt Vs. Imposter Syndrome 17:03 How Kelli Addresses Self-Doubt 23:09 The Link Between Facts And Fear 23:25 The Pedestal Syndrome 26:37 How Men Can Empower Women In The Workplace 29:18 Building Confidence In Children 31:38 End Of Interview 32:02 Andy's Comments After The Interview 37:36 Outtakes Learn More You can learn more about Kelli and her book at KelliRaeThompson.com. For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 431 with Dr. Sam Adeyemi. He's a top leadership voice in Africa and has helpful insights on moving from self-doubt to confidence. Episode 295 with Don Moore about his book on more confident decision-making. Episode 179 with Andy Molinsky about getting out of your comfort zone. 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 Topics: Imposter Syndrome, Confidence, Leadership, Self-Doubt, Project Management, Values, Women Empowerment, Parenting, Fear, Pedestal Syndrome The following music was used for this episode: Music: Imagefilm 034 by Sascha Ended 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
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Oct 17, 2024 • 37min

PPP 439 | The Win-Win of Volunteering: How Giving Back Benefits Your Career, with Yasmina Khelifi and Mayte Mata Sivera

Join Yasmina Khelifi, a senior project manager in France and co-author of 'The Volunteering Journey to Project Leadership,' along with Mayte Mata Sivera, a project management director, as they discuss the transformative benefits of volunteering. They share personal stories illustrating how giving back enhances leadership skills and builds professional networks. Listeners will discover practical tips for starting small in volunteer efforts, finding joy in service, and leveraging LinkedIn for networking—all while emphasizing the win-win nature of community engagement.
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Oct 7, 2024 • 33min

PPP 438 | Think Like a Customer: Delivering Value Through OKRs, with Jeff Gothelf

Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Jeff Gothelf about the importance of OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) as a customer-centric goal-setting framework. Based on insights from Jeff's book Who Does What By How Much?: A Practical Guide to Customer-Centric OKRs, they explore the challenges leaders face in ensuring their teams work on the right priorities, the misconceptions surrounding OKRs, and the significance of measuring outcomes and value. Jeff emphasizes the need for organizations to focus on customer needs and behavior changes rather than just task completion. The discussion also covers how to implement OKRs effectively, starting small, and the potential for using OKRs in personal goal setting. If you've ever wondered how you and your team could better drive real value for your organization and customers, this episode is for you! Sound Bites "The true measure of the value of the thing that you deliver to your customer is measuring outcomes—meaningful changes in their behavior." "The deliverable is variable. You've got some ideas, some hypotheses about what you might make, but the measure of success is not the development and deployment of that thing—it's the behavior change." "You know you've written a good key result when it literally spells out: 'who does what by how much,' which is the name of the book." "Everyone's got a customer. The true measure of value is measuring outcomes, meaningful changes in their behavior. And that's applicable in every scenario." "It's infinitely easier for someone to just tell you what to do. Honestly, it's easier for the person telling you what to do, and for a lot of folks, they're just like 'tell me what to do, and I'll do it.'" "By the time we decide what to work on to the time that it actually comes out in the market, a lot of that consumer demand has moved on or shifted." "One of the biggest challenges is getting folks to start questioning whether the work they're doing actually solves a real problem in a meaningful way." "The incentives for a lot of teams are to produce a thing, and then they get measured, rewarded, and promoted based on that. Rarely do we ask: did anyone need that thing?" "Make them successful, respect their time, solve real problems in meaningful ways, and make it a delight to use." Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:39 Start Of Interview 01:49 Why Do People Work On The Wrong Stuff? 04:07 Why Is It Difficult To Get Alignment, Collaboration, And Strategy Focus? 05:10 How Do You Like To Introduce People To OKRs? 07:46 What Are Some Common Misconceptions About OKRs? 10:41 How Do You Define Value? 13:05 What Do You Mean By An Outcome? 17:36 How Do You Go About Starting An OKR System? 20:48 Can OKRs Work For Teams If The Overall Company Doesn't Use Them? 24:35 End Of Interview 24:55 Andy Comments After The Interview 28:07 Outtakes Learn More To learn more about this topic, check out these episodes: Episode 328, with Terry Schmidt about LogFrames. It's different from OKRs, but it's another way to strategically think through the work we're doing. Episode 127, with Rob-Jan de Jong. It's a strategy book that can help with delivering a vision for an organization or team. You can learn more about Jeff and his book at JeffGothelf.com. 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: Business Acumen Topics: Project Management, OKRs, Leadership, Customer-Centric, Goal Setting, Business Strategy, Outcomes, Value Measurement, Implementation, Personal Growth The following music was used for this episode: Music: Underground Shadows by MusicLFiles License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Energetic Drive Indie Rock by Winnie the Moog License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
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Oct 1, 2024 • 44min

PPP 437 | Future-Prepping Your Career in the Age of AI, with Dr. Nada Sanders

Dr. Nada Sanders, co-author of 'The Humachine,' explores the crucial integration of AI and human skills. She discusses Kasparov's Law and Moravec's Paradox, emphasizing the unique strengths humans bring, such as emotional intelligence and creativity. The conversation offers insights for leaders and parents on preparing future generations for an AI-enhanced world. Sanders highlights the importance of adaptability, continuous learning, and maintaining human virtues in the face of rapid technological changes.

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