5 Minutes Podcast with Ricardo Vargas

In this week's episode, Ricardo discusses one of the critical principles of the PRINCE2 method: the management by exception. Managing by exception is a key pillar to save time and the overload of communications by setting boundaries of action and escalating issues. This principle is useful in every type of project and every method. Listen to the episode to learn more about avoiding unnecessary rep...

In this week's episode, Ricardo gives tips for optimizing virtual meetings. As everyone knows, this type of arrangement has become a "nightmare" for many. Endless hours in front of a small screen have become a torment for productivity and performance. There are 5 simple tips that are much more related to discipline and behavior than to any type of technology.

This week's topic goes back to negotiation and who should make the first offer. Many researchers claim that the Anchoring bias provides an edge to those who make the first offer since the human tendency supports that counter-offers tend to be proposed around the initial starting point. But there is a way around this if you don't make the first offer... Listen to the episode to find out more.

This week, Ricardo reflects on companies' benefits and challenges with the visible increase in interest in outsourcing activities, especially concerning outsourced activities due to incapacity and lack of knowledge about work. He ponders the damage that the lack of knowledge, mastery of technology and know-how, can generate in the project's sustainability and its benefits.

This week Ricardo returns to discuss the Dunning-Kruger effect and how it is usually more visible in projects and initiatives with more abstract deliveries and products. It is important to remember that the Dunning-Kruger effect occurs when the professional demonstrates confidence and a sense of competence incompatible with his job's real ability. This time, he goes back to discussing one of the m...

The WEF just published the Global Risk Report 2021. In its 16th edition, the report addresses the significant global risks like war, natural disasters, infectious diseases, and several other events and hazards that could jeopardize companies and governments' operations. In this episode, Ricardo highlights the report's main finds and goes back to 2020 to see how the landscape changed with the COVID...

Nowadays, all those leading projects and initiatives only talk about outcomes. In this week episode, Ricardo reflects on the concept that outcomes are everything while outputs are irrelevant. For him, outputs and outcomes are equally important because outputs are the only way to produce outcomes. The problem is the disconnection between the outputs we product and the outcome we want to reach. We n...

With the new PMP® Exam just released by PMI, Ricardo has received several messages asking about the new exam and the relationship with the PMBOK® Guide 6th Edition and the new PMBOK® Guide 7th Edition that is close to being released. He approaches the main differences in the exam and that until the new PMBOK® Guide is released, the part of the exam that MAY cover the guide will be based on the 6th...

In the fourth and last episode, Ricardo talks about the importance of reputation and the use of social media. He also discusses our attitude towards failure, empathy, humility and gratitude and how these aspects become fundamental as you progress professionally in life.

This week's episode celebrates the 13th anniversary of the 5 Minutes Podcast and the arrival of a significant milestone: 500 episodes. In this special podcast, Ricardo reviews 2020 and shares his perspectives for 2021. He also shares an interview about podcasts' history and some curious facts, as he has never heard even an episode of his own podcasts. The interview is on your YouTube channel - Lin...

In the third episode of the series, Ricardo shares his method to identify which projects and initiatives he must undertake to achieve his goals. It shows how a Post-It and a flip chart can make a big difference in how you view, compare and select ideas.

This week Ricardo publishes the audio of the second episode of the What Matters Series (https://youtube.com/rvvargas) In this episode, he discusses the importance of having professional options and how you can increase these options by improving knowledge, networking and mobility. He also talks about how some discomfort and challenges can bring you the resilience and "antifragility" to succeed.

This week Ricardo publishes a special podcast with the audio of the first episode of the What Matters Series (https://youtube.com/rvvargas) In this episode, he shares how passion defines success for you; no matter what career you choose.

This week, Ricardo will address a question he has been receiving in the past weeks: Should I sit my PMP Exam now, or should I wait until 2021? In this episode, Ricardo tries to answer this question and provide some last-minute tips for those who do not want to “procrastinate” and get the job done this year.

This week, Ricardo talks about a type of relationship that is becoming increasingly popular: coupled dependencies. This kind of relationship increases the delivery speed. However, if not appropriately managed, this coupled dependency can increase the risks and the chances of rework. This is due to the set of assumptions teams needed to create these coupled dependencies.

This week, Ricardo talks about the evaluation of risks using the Bowtie method. The method has its roots in the oil and gas industry, but it is used today in several areas to visualize the event, the threats that could trigger the risk and its consequences. After evaluating the threats and consequences, the team should work together to identify barriers that they can implement to avoid or mitigate...

This week, Ricardo talks about metrics and discusses why we should review metrics often to make sure they are still valuable. One of the main threats of old metrics is that people get used to the engine behind it, and they know exactly how to work so that they stay on permanent “green” without truly seeing the whole picture.

This week, Ricardo presents the last episode about the engineering culture created by Spotify to manage and deliver projects. The Spotify model aims to shape a culture of self-organized, autonomous teams, where independence and alignment combined with a strong focus on people and motivation aim to bring agility at scale with fast decoupled releases and an incredible sense of mutual trust. For more...

This week, Ricardo presents part 2 of 3 about the engineering culture created by Spotify to manage and deliver projects. The Spotify model aims to shape a culture of self-organized, autonomous teams, where independence and alignment combined with a strong focus on people and motivation aim to bring agility at scale with fast decoupled releases and an incredible sense of mutual trust. For more info...

This week, Ricardo kicks off a series of 3 episodes about the engineering culture created by Spotify to manage and deliver projects. The Spotify model aims to shape a culture of self-organized, autonomous teams, where independence and alignment combined with a strong focus on people and motivation aim to bring agility at scale with fast decoupled releases and an incredible sense of mutual trust. P...

In this episode, Ricardo addresses the problem of creating complex management systems to manage complex projects. This kind of mistake is very common. As things become more complex, you add more layers of controls, reporting, etc. That is where bureaucracy is born. This is when your project or initiative goes to the Intensive Care Unit… It becomes crucial to understand that simple and effective ma...

In this episode, Ricardo shows how to use the 7R process to plan and drive change. The 7R’s process was primarily focused on IT initiatives, mainly using ITIL Change Management Process. However, every single change initiative can benefit from it, regardless of area or sector. The 7R’s are (Raiser, Reason, Return, Risk, Responsible, Resources, and Relationships).

In this episode, Ricardo reflects on five aspects that could explain why some intellectually gifted professionals have such a hard time working in teams. He discusses aspects related to confidence, education, ego, EQ, and IQ, among others, and their impact on a “smart” person’s desire and effectiveness to work together.

In this episode, Ricardo discusses the connection between our desire for adaptability, creativity, experimentation and innovation with common human feelings like fear and safety. Providing a psychologically safe environment is becoming a critical success factor in surviving and thriving in the current scenario.

In this episode, Ricardo comments on a recent LinkedIn post comparing “Project Management Thinking” with “Scrum Master Thinking”. The post clearly presents one side as a controller, authoritarian, centralizer, etc. and the other as a team player and an enabler. On a rare reply to posts, Ricardo mentioned that this is not the right comparison. This is a comparison between competent and incompetent...