People and Projects Podcast: Project Management Podcast

What I Taught Today The last time you said "I love meetings!" was probably, when? Never? Hah! To the contrary, meetings seem like an enormous waste of time in too many situations, right? I recently interviewed Elise Keith about her new book Where The Action Is. The full interview will be published in January, but in this 3-minute episode, I share two ideas from the book and a challenge for you to...

What I Taught Today You're likely making this mistake when building your network. Whether it's your connections social media or how you build relationships at work or with your projects, left to our own devices we fall into the trap that I learned from Herminia Ibarra when discussing her book Act Like a Leader, Think Like a Leader back in episode 130 . Let Me Hear From You! What do you think about...

Hello? Can You Hear Me? Project teams are increasingly made up of team members that are not co-located. Even if that's not your situation now, it likely will be in the future. How do you connect with people in a virtual world? That's what Dr. Nick Morgan's new book Can You Hear Me? is all about. Join us for the "virtual" discussion with Nick about the book, and let me know what you think! What did...

Would You Speak Up? Let's say your manager's boss is proposing an idea. It's not a terrible idea, but you have some concerns. Some questions. You're in a meeting, hearing about that idea, along with your peers, your boss, and other leaders of the company. Do you speak up? Do you keep quiet? What would you do? In this episode, we talk about one of the most important concepts I've learned this year:...

What I Taught Today On my way to teach an MBA class this morning, I tried and tried to give away a free donut. And I couldn't get a taker. OK, I admit, maybe it's a little creepy to have someone you don't know offer a donut. But in this 2.5 minute video, I share a quick thought that can help accelerate your learning. Let Me Hear From You! What's an example of how you've engaged on platforms like L...

What I Taught Today Recently I heard a presenter talk about what he referred to as "the happiness formula". In this 4-minute video, I talk about what I like and don't like about the formula as we seek to apply it to our projects. Let Me Hear From You! What do you like about this happiness formula? What concerns do you have? I'd love to hear your thoughts! What have you been learning lately? What a...

What I Taught Today We continue our series of brief videos about something I've recently taught or learned. While prepping for an interview with James Clear about his book Atomic Habits, I came across some ideas that apply to our ability to lead teams and deliver projects. In this 3-minute video, we discuss the relationship between outcomes and habits, and what goals that are not supported by habi...

What I Taught Today We continue our series of brief videos about something I've recently taught or learned. Could it be that when things go great, leaders get too much credit (and too much blame when things go poorly)? In this 3-minute video I talk about the leader attribution error , which you should keep in mind the next time your project goes perfectly (or poorly). Let Me Hear From You! What do...

What I Taught Today We continue our series of brief videos about something I've recently taught or learned. Today is a 90 second lesson from a morning bike ride on a brisk and windy Chicago morning. The lesson can help you prioritize your morning to help the rest of your day go more easily. Let Me Hear From You! What do you think about this "ride into the wind" idea? How do you prioritize your mor...

Surviving the Messy Middle We celebrate beginnings. We celebrate endings. But according to Adobe Chief Product Officer Scott Belsky, it's the middle of our boldest initiatives that can be the toughest to endure. In this episode, Scott joins us to talk about his new book The Messy Middle: Finding Your Way Through the Hardest and Most Crucial Part of Any Bold Venture , and I'm excited to introduce y...

What I Taught Today We continue our series of brief videos about something I've recently taught or learned. This week we wrapped up an 8-month leadership development program at a Fortune 50 company. In this 3-minute video, I share a couple lessons from our program graduation. Let Me Hear From You! How you are intentionally developing your leadership skills? How you helping your team members to bec...

What I Taught Today We continue our series of brief videos about something I've recently taught or learned. One of my best bosses perfectly illustrated an influence technique by the way she responded to status reports. In this 2-minute video, I share some lessons about that technique to help you in the week ahead. Let Me Hear From You! What questions have you learned to ask? What do you think abou...

What I Taught Today We continue our series of brief videos about something I've recently taught or learned. Generally speaking, I've found having a bias for "Yes" is good. Instead of saying "No, we can't do this" find a way to say "But we can do this by that timeframe." A bias for Yes can be good in many situations, yet when we're crazy busy, the art of knowing how to say "No" is more important th...

High Performing Project Managers What does it mean to be a high performer? In a world where everyone seems to think they're above average, what does it take to truly stand out? And what advice has multiple research studies backing it up, making it more reliable for you to focus on? In this episode, I'm joined by Marc Effron, author of 8 Steps to High Performance: Focus on What You Can Change (Igno...

What I Taught Today We continue our series of brief videos about something I've recently taught or learned. In this 2-minute video, I share some thoughts from a recent keynote I delivered entitled Help for the Crazy Busy. Let Me Hear From You! What habits have you developed to help you stay on top of all your demands? I'd love to hear your thoughts! What have you been learning lately? What are you...

What I Taught Today We continue our series of brief videos about something I've recently taught or learned. In this 2-minute video, I share some thoughts from two leadership keynotes I delivered today. Do you aspire to lead or aspire for a paycheck? The difference is critical. Let Me Hear From You! Why do you aspire to lead? I'd love to hear your thoughts! What have you been learning lately? What...

What I Taught Today We continue our series of brief videos about something I've recently taught or learned. In this 3-minute video, I share two lessons from a conversation with a pilot, including how you talk about your colleagues and the danger of indecision. Let Me Hear From You! What have you been learning lately? What are you reading? Please e-mail me (show [AT] PeopleAndProjectsPodcast [DOT]...

What I Taught Today We continue our series of brief videos about something I've recently taught or learned. In this < 2-minute video, I share a lesson from a couple pilots talking about landings, with some advice from World Series of Poker champion Annie Duke. Let Me Hear From You! What have you been learning lately? What are you reading? Please e-mail me (show [AT] PeopleAndProjectsPodcast [DOT]...

What I Taught Today We continue our series of brief videos about something I've recently taught or learned. In this 4 and half minute video, I share some lessons for dealing with stakeholders that drive you crazy. Let Me Hear From You! How do you, despite your crazy schedule, carve out time to invest in relationships? How have friendships helped you be a better leader? What have you been learning...

What I Taught Today We continue our series of brief videos about something I've recently taught or learned. I'm preparing to interview Scott Belsky about his upcoming book The Messy Middle . It's a book filled with wisdom for those leading projects and companies, and in this 4-minute video, I share a quick lesson to remember when hiring someone. Let Me Hear From You! How do you, despite your crazy...

What I Taught Today We continue our series of brief videos about something I've recently taught or learned. Jeffrey Pfeffer joined us back in episode 200 to talk about his book Dying for a Paycheck . You can't read the book and lead the same. In this 100-second video, I share a lesson from the book that is important for all of us who are so busy leading that we need to be reminded to do this one t...

What I Taught Today We continue our series of brief videos about something I've recently taught or learned. Earlier today I was interviewed for an upcoming PMO Virtual Summit. Our discussion was about managing difficult stakeholder situations, and in this 3.5-minute video, I share an idea about the difference between keeping someone informed and keeping them satisfied. The difference is critical w...

What I Taught Today We continue our series of brief videos about something I've recently taught or learned. In this 2-minute video, I share an idea I use to up my game just a little when I'm on my bike, and that you can use to make progress on any goal you're working on. Here's a quick read from the Heath brothers about the idea of whisker goals : https://www.fastcompany.com/1150180/set-smaller-go...

What I Taught Today We continue our series of brief videos about something I've recently taught or learned. In this 90-second video, I share a quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson and a mission that I'd love you to join me on! Let Me Hear From You! What have you been learning lately? What are you reading? Please e-mail me (show [AT] PeopleAndProjectsPodcast [DOT] com) or leave a message on our Listener...

What I Taught Today We continue our series of brief videos about something I've recently taught or learned. In this 99 second video, I share a lesson that helps me up the biggest hills I have to climb on my bike--and hopefully can help you up a hill you're facing right now. Let Me Hear From You! What have you been learning lately? What are you reading? Please e-mail me (show [AT] PeopleAndProjects...