People. Process. Progress.

Most problems get harder the longer you wait. This episode focuses on leading early before tension or confusion take hold. I walk through the cues that tell you when to step in and how early action prevents bigger issues later. You will get a clear practice you can use to stay ahead instead of catching up.

Pressure rises from every direction when you lead portfolio work. In this episode we talk about how to stay calm, create clarity, and set a tone of confidence when expectations stack up. I share lessons from healthcare IT, emergency response, and large scale programs that help you guide teams with steadiness and purpose.

Grief shows up uninvited, and it doesn’t leave on our timeline. But we can own how we respond. In this Reset Friday episode, Owning Your Response to Grief, of People, Process, Progress, I share tools that helped me face grief and keep moving forward: journaling, routines, connection, and honoring those we’ve lost.

In this Reset Friday road edition, Kevin reflects on the importance of sharing what we know instead of keeping it bottled up. Too often, knowledge, skills, and experience leave with us when we move on from a job, a team, or even life itself. Mentorship—formal or informal—is how we make sure others don’t have to start from scratch. Kevin shares examples from the workplace, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and...

We live in a time where more information does not always mean more clarity. In this episode of People, Process, Progress, I share how leaders, project managers, and parents can filter the flood of information and focus on what matters. We will cover why people need direction not noise, how to set critical information requirements for work and home, and how progress is made by responding with purpo...

In this Reset Friday, Kevin Pannell shares how one jack rabbit can spook a herd of sheep and how the same happens to us when fear, rumors, or groupthink take over. Drawing from Deuteronomy 32:30 and Joyce Meyer’s 15 Minutes in the Word, Kevin shows how this plays out at work, in politics, in church, and at home, then offers three ways to stay steady: mindfulness, ownership, and connection.

Season 7, Episode 5 of People, Process, Progress, Why People, Process, Progress Matters Now, looks at how this week’s tragedies, a young man’s murder, another school shooting, and police officers killed in the line of duty, mirror the same disconnect we see in our workplaces. I share how the 7 Project Pillars can guide us not just in projects, but in our lives and communities, helping us re-engage...

Saying yes to everything is one of the fastest ways to end up burned out and unfocused. In this short Reset Friday: Boundaries Before Burnout, I share a practical way to protect your energy and set boundaries that actually stick. Learn how to use one simple reset phrase to stay aligned with your priorities and show up better for the people who matter most.

Most team problems come from unclear direction, not a lack of effort. In this episode,Three Critical Elements to Align Any Team | S7 Ep3, I share three practical tools: Leader’s Intent, a clear Definition of Done, and SMART objectives that bring clarity and speed to any project. You will hear a real example of how alignment turned a drifting team into one that delivered with confidence. For more t...

I’m kicking off a new weekly series called Reset Friday. Each Friday, I’ll share a short, practical way to reset your mind, body, and spirit. These episodes aren’t long lectures. They’re tools you can put into practice right away. For our first Reset Friday, I’m sharing what I call the Trifecta of Recovery: Wim Hof breathing, yoga, and the cold plunge. Breathing primes your nervous system, yoga ce...

September is a natural time to reset. In this episode, I share how I slipped on my own pillar maintenance and used reflection, family time, and a simple framework of People, Process, and Progress to get back on track. You will learn how balance does not come from perfection, but from correction and intentional resets, and how you can apply this principle in your own life and work.

My new book, The People, Process, & Progress of Project Management, is now live on Amazon in Kindle, paperback, and hardcover. This book has been years in the making, and it pulls together over two decades of lessons from healthcare IT, public safety, and emergency management into a practical field guide for project leaders. Get your Kindle, hardcover, or paperback copy at https://a.co/d/dsEDG...

Kevin is taking a short break from the People, Process, Progress podcast until September. During this time, he's focused on publishing The Stability Equation audiobook, finishing his new project management book, and lining up future guests. Visit peopleprocessprogress.com for tools, resources, and ways to connect. Until then: own your mind, move your body, anchor your spirit. Godspeed y’all Kevin

When your plan falls apart, your recovery starts with the habits you've built before things went sideways. In this Foundations Friday episode, Build the Bounce, One Habit at a Time, we focus on simple actions that help you reset, refocus, and respond, rather than react when life punches first. This week’s anchor point is mindfulness and movement. It’s not about being tough. It’s about being traine...

What do you do when your perfect plan falls apart? In this episode, How to Lead When Your Plan Falls Apart, I share how the concepts of tension and compression from Jiu-Jitsu can help you lead through pressure, adapt in real time, and still move forward. Whether you’re leading a project, managing a team, or showing up at home, you’ll learn how to adjust without losing momentum. Hope ignites. Plans...

In this Anchor Points episode, I reflect on what it really means to recognize when it’s time to step back and let someone else lead. Whether you’re a parent, a partner, or a project leader, there’s a moment when guidance turns into trust and support becomes space. Inspired by the full episode released earlier this week, “The Day My Son Surpassed Me” , this short-form reflection focuses on the valu...

There comes a moment when we realize our kids are no longer just following us, they’re leading in their way. In this episode, "What I Learned the Day My Son Surpassed Me," I share the story of how my son surpassed me, not just in the gym, but also in emotional steadiness. I also share how that shifted my approach to parenting, leadership, and letting go. Inspired by a powerful quote from Ryan Holi...

Since 2019, I’ve led major IT programs, including Workday ERP and the technology for a new children’s hospital, while mainly working remotely. In this episode, "Remote, Hybrid, or In-Office: What's the Right Fit?", I break down the pros and cons of remote, hybrid, and in-office work, drawing on real-world experience and leadership lessons. Links: Full article on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/...

When leaders try to manage too many people directly, clarity disappears and momentum suffers. In this episode, I break down the importance of span of control across public safety, healthcare IT, and project teams. Whether you're building a department, spinning up an incident team, or planning a go-live, the rule of 3 to 7 direct reports still holds. Five is the sweet spot—but there are exceptions....

On this Foundations Friday, How to Align Risk Language Across Teams, we break down how project managers and emergency leaders can align around a shared risk language. Whether you're using a THIRA or a risk register, the goal is the same: identify what could go wrong, how bad it might be, and what to do about it. Real teamwork starts when everyone sees risk through the same lens.

Warren Buffett said it best: “Risk comes from not knowing what you're doing.” On today’s episode, How to Combine Project Risk Tools with Emergency Planning, we’re focusing on how project managers and public safety leaders can speak the same language when it comes to risk. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, created the Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment—also known a...

In this Foundations Friday, Why Structure Must Come Before Action, we explore the importance of applying project structure to any event or initiative. Whether you're planning a community gathering, a training workshop, or a major deployment, structure is your best friend. Learn two quick strategies to lead with clarity and avoid chaos. What You'll Learn: Why structure should come before action How...

Planning a public event without structure is a risk you can’t afford. In this episode, How to Treat How to Run Your Event Like a Successful Project, Kevin Pannell shares how to apply project management principles and ICS tools, like RACI matrices, project phases, SMART goals, and SitReps, to plan safer, smoother public safety events. Whether you're leading a 5K, a drill, or a community gathering,...

This week, we apply an EMT’s trauma checklist to project leadership. Using the DCAP-BTLS framework, we explore how to scan your project for failure symptoms—before they spiral. Key focus areas: • Spotting early signs of project breakdown • Clarifying roles and responsibilities • Responding with intention, not reaction Call to Action: Identify one “injury” in your project—like burnout, misalignment...

Welcome to the second full episode in our All-Hazards Project Management series, What Project Managers Can Learn from EMTs. In this episode, we apply a trauma checklist used in emergency medicine—DCAP-BTLS—to assess and stabilize failing projects. Strategies shared include: Weekly workload balancing Stakeholder alignment checkpoints RACI ownership clarifications Real-world triage questions for tea...