Manage This - The Project Management Podcast

Explore what sets thriving teams apart from dysfunctional ones; and how project leaders can build a culture of energy, engagement, and sustainable success. Hear about a capacity-building framework: spiritual, intellectual, physical, and emotional, and how strengthening these four dimensions drives performance and boosts team productivity.

Stephen T. Collis, law professor at the University of Texas and author of *Habits of a Peacemaker*, dives into the art of transforming toxic conversations into healthy dialogues. He emphasizes intellectual humility, sincere questioning, and assuming the best in others. Discussions revolve around fostering productive discussions, navigating conflicts, and the importance of forgiveness in team dynamics. Collis advocates for prioritizing mutual respect and understanding over persuasion, providing valuable insights for project managers seeking to enhance team relationships.

Ben Lamorte talks with us about the power of OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) as a transformative tool for project leaders. He introduces a simple framework: define the destination, articulate its importance, set measurable key results, and outline an action plan. Hear about the impact of strong OKRs, and how tracking progress fosters motivation through small wins and helps teams maintain focus.

Dave Garrett, Senior Advisor to the CEO, discusses the PMI Project Success Initiative, a 2023 research project by the Project Management Institute. The initiative redefines project success and offers actionable insights for project professionals. Dave describes shifting the focus and accountability beyond project management success to overall project success as he talks about the three key measurement factors crucial for project success and the Net Project Success Score, a tool used to evaluate a project’s success.

If you’re dealing with an overdue project or looking to prevent delays before they happen, listen to Mark Woeppel as he shares real-world examples, hard-earned lessons, and practical frameworks to help organizations get struggling initiatives back on track—and what leaders can do to prevent delays from happening in the first place. Hear how poor schedule and risk reserve management can lead to delays and learn early warning signs to identify minor versus systemic issues.

Join Adam Boddison, Chief Executive of the Association for Project Management, as he reshapes the landscape of project management. He discusses the Golden Thread research and the need to reframe stereotypes, emphasizing the importance of people skills over processes. Adam dives into the role of effective sponsorship and how project managers can elevate their strategic importance in organizations. He also explores the societal benefits of successful projects and advocates for diversity and ESG principles as key to delivering impactful results.

As the workforce evolves, so does the opportunity to harness the power of a blended approach. In this episode, author and researcher Sara Daw, MBA, joins us to discuss the increasingly relevant topic of the blended workforce. Sara discusses how combining full-time employees with fractional, freelance, or contract team members can drive innovation, increase flexibility, and provide access to specialized expertise when and where it’s needed.

Volunteering: A pathway to improving leadership skills, broadening networks, and exploring new fields. In this episode, we explore how volunteering can shape project management careers, with our guests, Yasmina Khelifi and Mayte Mata Sivera. They share how volunteering has been a cornerstone in their professional journeys, enriching their experiences, opening new doors, and helping them grow as leaders.

Staying updated on innovative methodologies empowers project managers to tackle challenges and spark creativity. In this episode, Arash Parsania introduces HYPERID, a flexible hybrid new methodology for project management. Arash shares the innovative project estimation techniques HYPERID incorporates, what sets it apart from other methodologies, and his "person-day" estimation method.

Focus on what truly matters while maintaining balance and reducing stress. This episode is packed with practical advice for building resilient teams, preventing burnout, and aligning efforts with meaningful goals. James Louttit shares his journey from managing intense stress to adopting approaches that reduce strain, foster balance, and maximize value. Hear about strategies for setting boundaries, tackling "HiPPo" influences, and maintaining focus on high-value, low-effort tasks.