Episodios

  • PPP 487 | Why Humor Is a Serious Leadership Skill, with comedian Adam Christing
    Dec 26 2025
    Summary In this episode, Andy talks with comedian and corporate emcee Adam Christing, author of The Laughter Factor: The 5 Humor Tactics to Link, Lift, and Lead. If you have ever hesitated to use humor at work because you were unsure it would land, or worried it might backfire, this conversation offers both encouragement and a practical path forward. Adam shares how his early influences shaped his approach to humor and why he believes every human is also a "humor being." You will hear why humor is more than chasing chuckles, including how it can build trust, improve learning, and strengthen relationships on teams. Adam introduces the concept of "laugh languages" and walks through examples such as Surprise and Poke, along with guidance on how to tease without crossing the line. They also discuss tailoring humor across cultures and how leaders can bring the laughter factor home with their families. If you are looking for practical insights on leading with humor, building trust, and bringing more humanity into your projects and teams, this episode is for you! Sound Bites "If you're a human being, you are also a humor being, and I would say not only do you have a sense of humor, but a sense of humor has you.""The audience is actually, whether it's three people or 300, they're actually rooting for you.""They don't want to be bored. They want to be entertained.""When we think back on the things that have made us laugh the most, it's often the flops that are the funniest.""They won't trust your humor until you do.""There's a saying in show business, 'funny is money'.""I really believe that humor is a bridge that helps you connect heart to heart with other people.""You're a leader. You need to be the one building trust.""Humor is a shortcut to trust.""Leaders help their people learn with laughter.""Increase your LPMs: laughs per meeting.""If in doubt, leave it out.""Every meeting really should be a party with a purpose." Chapters 00:00 Introduction01:43 Start of Interview03:38 Adam's Backstory and Early Influences05:23 "I'm Not Funny" and the Confidence Barrier10:36 Why Humor Is More Than Just Chuckles16:00 The Laughter Factor Explained18:10 Laugh Languages and the Power of Surprise21:09 Poke: Teasing Without Crossing the Line24:42 Using Humor Across Cultures30:14 How You Know the Laughter Factor Is Working32:17 Developing a Laughter Factor at Home34:25 End of Interview34:55 Andy Comments After the Interview38:02 Outtakes Learn More Get a copy of Adam's book The Laughter Factor: The 5 Humor Tactics to Link, Lift, and Lead. You can learn more about Adam and his work at TheLaughterFactor.com. While you are there, check out the short questionnaire to discover your laugh language. For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 316 with Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas. They are completely on this theme of humor being a strategic ability for leaders and teams.Episode 109 with Peter McGraw. Peter breaks down what makes something funny based on his book The Humor Code, an episode Andy still calls back to today.Episode 485 with John Krewson, a conversation about lessons from sketch comedy that nicely reinforce ideas from today's episode. Level Up Your AI Skills Join other listeners from around the world who are taking our AI Made Simple course to prepare for an AI-infused future. Just go to ai.PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com. Thanks! Pass the PMP Exam If you or someone you know is thinking about getting PMP certified, we've put together a helpful guide called The 5 Best Resources to Help You Pass the PMP Exam on Your First Try. We've helped thousands of people earn their certification, and we'd love to help you too. It's totally free, and it's a great way to get a head start. Just go to 5BestResources.PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com to grab your copy. I'd love to help you get your PMP this year! Join Us for LEAD52 I know you want to be a more confident leader, that's why you listen to this podcast. LEAD52 is a global community of people like you who are committed to transforming their ability to lead and deliver. It's 52 weeks of leadership learning, delivered right to your inbox, taking less than 5 minutes a week. And it's all for free. Learn more and sign up at GetLEAD52.com. Thanks! Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Power Skills Topics: Leadership, Humor At Work, Trust Building, Communication, Team Culture, Psychological Safety, Cross-Cultural Leadership, Meeting Facilitation, Emotional Intelligence, Influence, Learning And Development, People Management, Project 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: Synthiemania by Frank Schroeter License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
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    43 m
  • PPP 486 | How to Solve Some of the Toughest Leadership Problems, with business coach Dr. Katie Best
    Dec 5 2025
    Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Dr. Katie Best, leadership coach and author of The Ten Toughest Leadership Problems and How to Solve Them. Drawing on years of coaching leaders across industries, Katie shares practical insights that help you tackle high-stakes leadership moments—especially when a coach isn't available. They explore Katie's SOLVE framework for problem-solving under pressure, the danger of performative busyness, and how to make better decisions when trade-offs and uncertainty rule the day. You'll also hear how to unlock authentic influence without manipulation, foster healthy debate on overly "nice" teams, and support psychological safety in leadership and parenting. Andy and Katie also dig into how to empower women in leadership and how small actions can create big shifts in workplace culture. If you've ever felt overwhelmed as a leader or wished for a coach in the moment, this conversation offers clarity, encouragement, and real tools you can start using today! Sound Bites "You only have power if someone believes that you do.""All interaction is manipulative, but that doesn't mean it's toxic.""Performative busyness is one of the biggest traps for high performers.""Draw the line, or others will draw it for you.""Influence is about being a decent human, not just using techniques.""If you've done the learning, don't let it go to waste.""The idea that people put on an act at work has always fascinated me.""We owe it to ourselves, and if we're leaders of other human beings, we owe it to them as well, to show that it's okay to switch off.""Performative busyness is that kind of, we're never allowed to stop, and if we continue to perform, we keep that idea going that everyone needs to be busy all the time.""We are so much better at learning from positivity than we are from negativity.""We have to recognize that lots of people don't like speaking up in meetings.""It's much easier to do a positive thing than to not do a negative thing." Chapters 00:00 Introduction01:33 Start of Interview01:45 Early Influences on Leadership04:33 The Coaching Gap and Why She Wrote the Book05:47 What Is Performative Busyness?09:32 How Katie Protects Her Own Focus and Energy12:00 Introducing the SOLVE Framework18:00 Making Decisions with Uncertainty20:40 Power and Influence: What's the Difference?25:42 Why Influence Techniques Sometimes Backfire26:43 Encouraging Debate in "Too Nice" Cultures28:40 Building Psychological Safety on Your Team31:00 Advice for Women Leaders (and the Men Who Support Them)34:00 Leadership Lessons as a Parent35:55 End of Interview36:25 Andy Comments After the Interview40:19 Outtakes Learn More You can learn more about Katie and her work at KatieBest.com. For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 442 with Dominic Ashley-Timms. Excellent ideas on how to coach the people around us—and ourselves.Episode 391 with Adam Bryant. Insightful and engaging stories about how people make the leap to being leaders.Episode 385 with Vanessa Patrick. She wrote a great book about How To Say No. Very empowering. Pass the PMP Exam If you or someone you know is thinking about getting PMP certified, we've put together a helpful guide called The 5 Best Resources to Help You Pass the PMP Exam on Your First Try. We've helped thousands of people earn their certification, and we'd love to help you too. It's totally free, and it's a great way to get a head start. Just go to 5BestResources.PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com to grab your copy. I'd love to help you get your PMP! Level Up Your AI Skills Join other listeners from around the world who are taking our AI Made Simple course to prepare for an AI-infused future. Just go to ai.PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com. Thanks! Join Us for LEAD52 I know you want to be a more confident leader—that's why you listen to this podcast. LEAD52 is a global community of people like you who are committed to transforming their ability to lead and deliver. It's 52 weeks of leadership learning, delivered right to your inbox, taking less than 5 minutes a week. And it's all for free. Learn more and sign up at GetLEAD52.com. Thanks! Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Power Skills Topics: Leadership, Coaching, Decision Making, Influence, Communication, Psychological Safety, Conflict, Engagement, Organizational Culture, Team Development, Strategic Thinking, Problem Solving The following music was used for this episode: Music: On Point by Steven O'Brien License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Tropical Vibe by WinnieTheMoog License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
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    42 m
  • PPP 485 | What Project Teams Can Learn From Sketch Comedy, with author John Krewson
    Nov 26 2025
    Summary In this episode, Andy talks with John Krewson, co-author of Pitch, Sketch, Launch: A Sketch Comedy Approach to Product Development. John's journey spans software development, acting, and even a stint with Saturday Night Live. He now leads Sketch Development, where he helps teams build products people actually want, faster and with more joy. In this conversation, John explains why project teams should behave more like creative troupes than traditional org charts. You'll hear how laughter can be a feedback loop, why messy first drafts matter, and how simple tools like sticky notes, Elmo cards, and Lean Coffee can radically improve your team's collaboration. We also explore how sketch comedy's "test before polish" approach can transform how we ship ideas, and what that looks like on real-world teams. From unblocking meetings to unleashing creativity, this episode is packed with practical tools and paradigm shifts. If you're looking to bring more energy, experimentation, and feedback into your team's workflow, this episode is for you! Sound Bites "The best ideas often start as bad ones. The magic is in iteration.""You're not building a product. You're testing a hypothesis in the real world.""Sketch comedy taught me this: if the audience isn't laughing, it doesn't work. Product teams need that same feedback mindset.""You can't argue with the emotion of a dead silent audience when you think you've got gold.""We often equate busy with productive. But they're not the same thing.""A meeting isn't productive just because everyone showed up. Did it move ideas forward?""Troupes thrive on trust and feedback. Traditional teams often operate on fear and approval.""I was a mediocre software developer, which made me well-suited for management.""You are sucking the fun out of this. We are building software here. We get to play on computers. Let's make this fun.""There's this ruthless search for feedback that we learn how not to take things personally.""Nowhere in that iron triangle does anybody talk about whether or not the customer said, 'I needed that thing in the first place.'""We're not just cross-functional. We're cross-committed. That's what makes a team operate like a troupe.""If you're building something new, you need a mechanism to decide if it's valuable. And if it isn't, you toss it.""The law of averages will tell you: 80% of the ideas need to be tossed." Chapters 00:00 Introduction01:46 Start of Interview01:57 Career Backstory07:30 Acting Skills in Daily Work12:00 Busy vs Productive14:07 Project vs Product17:20 Teams as Troupes22:13 Meeting Tools and Techniques27:37 Laugh Testability33:35 Creative Mindsets at Work35:21 Co-Authoring and Collaboration38:00 Applying Ideas at Home40:33 End of Interview41:05 Andy Comments After the Interview44:13 Outtakes Learn More You can learn more about John and the book at SketchDev.io/pitch-sketch-launch. For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 316 with Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas. It's a conversation on humor as a secret weapon in business and life.Episode 109 with Peter McGraw. It's also about humor, a fun follow-up, even though John's book isn't just about comedy.Episode 469 with Phil Wilson. It's packed with great ideas for unleashing your team, which ties in beautifully with John's approach. Pass the PMP Exam This Year If you or someone you know is thinking about getting PMP certified, we've put together a helpful guide called The 5 Best Resources to Help You Pass the PMP Exam on Your First Try. We've helped thousands of people earn their certification, and we'd love to help you, too. It's totally free, and it's a great way to get a head start. Just go to 5BestResources.PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com to grab your copy. I'd love to help you get your PMP this year! Join Us for LEAD52 I know you want to be a more confident leader. That's why you listen to this podcast. LEAD52 is a global community of people like you who are committed to transforming their ability to lead and deliver. It's 52 weeks of leadership learning, delivered right to your inbox, taking less than 5 minutes a week. And it's all for free. Learn more and sign up at GetLEAD52.com. Thanks! Level Up Your AI Skills Join other listeners from around the world who are taking our AI Made Simple course to prepare for an AI-infused future. Just go to ai.PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com. Thanks! Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Power Skills Topics: Creativity, Feedback Loops, Team Collaboration, Agile Thinking, Innovation, Leadership, Project Management, Development, Meetings, Humor, Iteration, Trust, Team Culture, Psychological Safety, Growth Mindset The following music was used for this episode: Music: Tuesday by Sascha Ende License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Brooklyn Nights by Tim Kulig License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
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    52 m
  • PPP 484 | Coping with Digital Overwhelm Without Logging Off, with author Craig Mattson
    Nov 21 2025
    Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Dr. Craig Mattson, professor of communication and author of Digital Overwhelm: A Mid-Career Guide to Coping at Work. Rather than encouraging digital detoxing or escaping technology, Craig offers a refreshing way to understand and navigate the pressures of modern work. He introduces the idea of digiwhelm, explains why so much of our stress comes from the communication modes we inhabit, and shows how leaders can respond with intention rather than overload. You will hear Craig describe why email can be more than information transfer, how mode switching differs from context switching, and why one-way communication sometimes matters more than dialogue. Craig also shares why signals like silence, gestures, and tone often communicate more than words. Before closing, he draws connections to life at home, offering ideas for families that feel overwhelmed by devices and demands. If you are looking for practical insights to reduce digital overwhelm, improve communication, and lead with greater clarity and calm, this episode is for you! Sound Bites "Instead of digital minimalism, I recommend something like digital flexibility.""Humans are essentially users and switchers of modes.""What is going to be the defining overwhelm of my life?""You are always overwhelmed by something.""Flexibility is the wisdom that my book is urging.""Your words do things.""Think about the voice of the email.""A mode is an approach, it is a posture, it is a way of relating.""Is there a way in which this is actually good for me and actually good for other people?" Chapters 00:00 Introduction01:33 Start of Interview01:42 Early Life and Influences02:57 Growing Up with Technology04:11 What is Digiwhelm?06:26 How Does It Compare to Overload?08:35 The Impact of a David Ford Quote10:34 Understanding Mode Switching16:20 A Day in Communication Modes22:04 Email as Conversation24:29 Writing Email Like You Talk27:24 Dissemination in Practice32:00 Signals Leaders Should Notice39:00 Coping with Digiwhelm at Home43:04 End of Interview43:44 Andy Comments After the Interview48:14 Outtakes Learn More You can learn more about Craig and his work at DigitalOverwhelm.com. For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 144 with Cal Newport. Craig references Cal's book Deep Work in Digital Overwhelm, making this a great companion conversation.Episode 269 with Nir Eyal, about his book Indistractable. Nir shares insights about shaping your day to be less distracted.Episode 377 with Cassie Holmes, about her book Happier Hour. It is not only about managing your time but focusing on what really matters. Level Up Your AI Skills Join other listeners from around the world who are taking our AI Made Simple course to prepare for an AI infused future. Just go to ai.PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com. Thanks! Pass the PMP Exam If you or someone you know is thinking about getting PMP certified, we have a helpful guide called The 5 Best Resources to Help You Pass the PMP Exam on Your First Try. It is free and a great way to get a head start. Just go to 5BestResources.PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com to grab your copy. I would love to help you get your PMP this year! Join Us for LEAD52 I know you want to be a more confident leader. That is why you listen to this podcast. LEAD52 is a global community of people like you who are committed to transforming their ability to lead and deliver. It is 52 weeks of leadership learning, delivered right to your inbox, taking less than 5 minutes a week. And it is all for free. Learn more and sign up at GetLEAD52.com. Thanks! Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Power Skills Topics: Digital Overwhelm, Leadership, Communication, Project Management, Email Effectiveness, Team Culture, Listening Skills, Collaboration, Productivity, Decision Making, Stakeholder Engagement, Psychological Safety The following music was used for this episode: Music: Echo by Alexander Nakarada License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Energetic Drive Indie Rock by WinnieTheMoog License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
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    51 m
  • PPP 483 | The Future of PMOs, AI's Impact, and Leadership Lessons with Amireh Amirmazaheri
    Nov 4 2025
    Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Amireh Amirmazaheri, CEO of PMO Solutions and a leading voice in the global PMO community. From growing up in Iran during a time of war to building a respected consultancy in Australia, Amireh shares how resilience and curiosity shaped her approach to leadership and enabling project success. You'll hear how PMOs have evolved from administrative hubs to strategic influencers, what it means to truly "speak the language of executives," and how to recognize when a PMO is at risk of drifting into irrelevance. We also explore how AI is transforming the work of PMOs and what leaders can do to stay ahead of the curve. Plus, Amireh offers practical advice on leading as a woman in project management and applying PMO principles at home as a parent. If you're looking for insights on elevating PMO impact, executive communication, and leading through change, this episode is for you! Sound Bites "Limitations aren't always bad. They push us into the creativity zone.""Executives don't want red or amber. They want to know where the ship is heading.""When PMOs chase BAU firefighting, they lose their strategic brain.""If PMOs stay educated and ahead of the game, they can influence the AI journey.""It's okay to cry. Then think, learn, and lead.""Um, should I tell you that my little one has a kanban board?" Chapters 00:00 Introduction01:31 Start of Interview01:42 Early Life in Iran and Resilience12:56 Lessons About Enablement15:02 How PMOs Have Changed18:55 Speaking the Language of Executives21:22 Failure Clues and PMO Drift25:11 Sponsorship as a Risk Factor26:08 Using AI and Its Near-Term Impact on PMOs32:25 Leading as a Woman37:44 Applying PM and PMO Ideas at Home40:22 PMO Global Alliance Overview42:15 End of Interview42:50 Andy Comments After the Interview46:22 Outtakes Learn More You can learn more about Amireh and her work at PMOSol.com, or connect with her on LinkedIn. For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 436 with Laura Barnard, about the IMPACT EngineEpisode 429 with Bill Dow, about PMO insightsEpisode 187 with Peter Taylor, Bill Dow, and others, about the State of PMOs Level Up Your AI Skills Join other listeners from around the world who are taking our AI Made Simple course to prepare for an AI-infused future. Just go to ai.PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com. Thanks! Pass the PMP Exam This Year If you or someone you know is thinking about getting PMP certified, we've put together a helpful guide called The 5 Best Resources to Help You Pass the PMP Exam on Your First Try. We've helped thousands of people earn their certification, and we'd love to help you, too. It's totally free, and it's a great way to get a head start. Just go to 5BestResources.PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com to grab your copy. I'd love to help you get your PMP! Join Us for LEAD52 I know you want to be a more confident leader—that's why you listen to this podcast. LEAD52 is a global community of people like you who are committed to transforming their ability to lead and deliver. It's 52 weeks of leadership learning, delivered right to your inbox, taking less than 5 minutes a week. And it's all for free. Learn more and sign up at GetLEAD52.com. Thanks! Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Ways of Working Topics: PMOs, Executive Communication, Leadership, AI in Projects, Change Management, Strategic Thinking, Women in Leadership, Organizational Influence, Resilience, Stakeholder Engagement, Career Growth, Continuous Improvement The following music was used for this episode: Music: Brooklyn Nights by Tim Kulig 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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    48 m
  • PPP 482 | The PM Readiness Iron Triangle and How It Can Transform Your Career, with Kayla Quijas
    Oct 31 2025
    Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Kayla Quijas, founder of Kayla Q Career Coaching. Kayla's journey from cake decorator to Senior Project Manager at a global law firm is anything but conventional, and it's that transformation that fuels her work helping others break into and thrive in project management. At the heart of the discussion is Kayla's signature framework, the PM Readiness Iron Triangle, which focuses on three key pillars: credentials, experience, and network. You'll hear how to assess your readiness for a PM role, even if you don't come from a traditional background, and what to do if one leg of your triangle feels weak. In this conversation, Kayla shares practical ways to reframe your experience into project management language, advice for overcoming fear and imposter syndrome, and how to network without feeling sleazy or self-promotional. If you're looking for insights on how to grow your project management career—even if you're already PMP-certified—this episode is for you! Sound Bites "With this triangle, you need to be strong in at least two and then figure out where you're weak and shore that one up.""Before that, I was not getting any interviews. And then after that, I landed a project management job pretty quickly.""It is selfish not to share your thoughts because you're afraid people will judge you.""Networking doesn't have to be sleazy. Come at it from a give first perspective.""I got put on a PIP once for a project management job. That was one of the most sinking feelings that I had ever had.""Studying for the PMP, even if you don't take the test, can be a game-changer for your confidence and credibility.""Most of what you're doing in your current role is already project management. You just haven't labeled it that way yet.""You don't need a perfect resume to get hired. You need to tell a better story about your experience." Chapters 00:00 Introduction01:32 Start of Interview02:00 Kayla's Journey from Cake Decorator to Senior PM03:20 Pivotal Career Decisions04:20 What Kayla Did After Quitting Her Job06:00 Introducing the PM Readiness Iron Triangle07:40 How Kayla Came Up With the Triangle09:00 A Real-Life Success Story Using the Triangle11:00 Is the PMP Worth It?13:00 Benefits Beyond the Certification17:00 What If You Don't Have Enough Experience?18:25 Examples of Overlooked Project Experience20:00 How to Translate Experience into PM Language24:10 Turning a Project Into a Resume Story26:00 Reframing Networking So It Feels Authentic30:20 Kayla's Mastermind Group Strategy35:10 Giving Value Without Chasing Metrics36:24 About the PM Readiness Assessment37:14 End of Interview37:50 Andy Comments After the Interview42:55 Outtakes Learn More You can learn more about Kayla and her work at KaylaQCareerCoaching.com. Take the PM Readiness Assessment here: PM Readiness Assessment Connect with Kayla on LinkedIn: Kayla's LinkedIn Profile For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 474 with Stuart Taylor. It's a candid discussion about LinkedIn, our careers, and the role of AI.Episode 465 with Kari Mirabal. You'll get practical strategies for building professional relationships.Episode 258, also with Kari Mirabal. She shares even more insights on networking and career growth.Episode 39 with Devora Zack about her book Networking for People Who Hate Networking. Level Up Your AI Skills Join other listeners from around the world who are taking our AI Made Simple course to prepare for an AI-infused future. Just go to ai.PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com. Thanks! Pass the PMP Exam This Year If you or someone you know is thinking about getting PMP certified, we've put together a helpful guide called The 5 Best Resources to Help You Pass the PMP Exam on Your First Try. We've helped thousands of people earn their certification, and we'd love to help you, too. It's totally free, and it's a great way to get a head start. Just go to 5BestResources.PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com to grab your copy. I'd love to help you get your PMP this year! Join Us for LEAD52 I know you want to be a more confident leader–that's why you listen to this podcast. LEAD52 is a global community of people like you who are committed to transforming their ability to lead and deliver. It's 52 weeks of leadership learning, delivered right to your inbox, taking less than 5 minutes a week. And it's all for free. Learn more and sign up at GetLEAD52.com. Thanks! Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Business Acumen Topics: Project Management, Career Growth, PMP Certification, Networking, Leadership, Resume Writing, Personal Branding, Professional Development, Coaching, Confidence Building, Interviewing, Career Transitions The following music was used for this episode: Music: Quantum Sparks Full Version by MusicLFiles License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Fashion Corporate by Frank Schroeter License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/...
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    46 m
  • PPP 481 | Why Great Managers Add Zero Value and Why That is Good News, with author Matthew Ley
    Oct 22 2025
    Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Matt Ley about his new book Manage Your Gaps: Reclaiming the Awesomeness of Management. Matt challenges the myths and misunderstandings around management, explaining why clarity between contributors, managers, and leaders is key to organizational performance. You'll hear why he says managers are "multipliers" of value, how to recognize when you're being overled or overmanaged, and why he believes managers are not "junior leaders." Matt introduces his EP!C Management model: Environment, Performance, Identity, and Communication. It's a tactical framework designed to help managers activate and optimize their teams. He also shares practical ideas for improving one-on-ones, measuring success, and even applying these same principles at home through the Four Cs: Care, Clarity, Consistency, and Communication. If you're looking for actionable insights to sharpen your management skills and strengthen your team's performance, this episode is for you! Sound Bites "The thing is, managers are zero value add.""Contribution is all about working in the business. Management's all about working on the business and leadership's all about working on the future.""A manager is someone who's titled with making sure that they're multiplying the value of that organization.""A leader's job is to look up and out. So their job is to define the new, whereas a manager's accountability is to look down and in. So their job is to refine the now.""If you're not doing one-on-ones on a regular, consistent basis? That to me is the beating drum and the heartbeat of management.""It's really hard to feel successful in something if you don't have two things. One, you need a definition of what you're doing. And you need a measurement of how you're doing against it.""We reflect on the different roles that we play, that we call four hats: our professional hat, our personal hat, our partner hat, and our professional parent." Chapters 00:00 Introduction01:38 Start of Interview02:00 Family Influence on Leadership04:00 Career Journey to EP!C Model07:20 Rethinking Roles as Spokes09:40 Managers vs. Leaders12:40 Over-Led or Over-Managed15:20 Zero Value Add Concept17:20 Introducing the EP!C Model20:20 Identity in Management22:20 One Practical Management Tip24:00 Applying EP!C at Home26:14 End of Interview26:37 Andy Comments After the Interview Learn More You can learn more about Matt and his work at ManageYourGaps.com. For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 363 with Roger Martin. Roger typically shows up in the Thinkers50 Top 10 and shares key management lessons that complement this discussion.Episode 47 with Henry Mintzberg. It's a candid, entertaining conversation with one of the most influential management thinkers of our time.Episode 11 with Susan Scott. Based on her book Fierce Leadership, this episode explores powerful communication and management lessons that still hold up today. Level Up Your AI Skills Join other listeners from around the world who are taking our AI Made Simple course to prepare for an AI-infused future. Just go to ai.PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com. Thanks! Pass the PMP Exam This Year If you or someone you know is thinking about getting PMP certified, we've put together a helpful guide called The 5 Best Resources to Help You Pass the PMP Exam on Your First Try. We've helped thousands of people earn their certification, and we'd love to help you, too. It's totally free, and it's a great way to get a head start. Just go to 5BestResources.PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com to grab your copy. I'd love to help you get your PMP this year! Join Us for LEAD52 I know you want to be a more confident leader–that's why you listen to this podcast. LEAD52 is a global community of people like you who are committed to transforming their ability to lead and deliver. It's 52 weeks of leadership learning, delivered right to your inbox, taking less than 5 minutes a week. And it's all for free. Learn more and sign up at GetLEAD52.com. Thanks! Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Business Acumen Topics: Leadership, Management, Role Clarity, Team Performance, Organizational Design, Communication, One-On-Ones, Change Management, Coaching, Strategic Thinking, Team Culture, Manager Development The following music was used for this episode: Music: The Fantastical Ferrett by Tim Kulig License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Tropical Vibe by WinnieTheMoog License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
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    34 m
  • PPP 480 | What If You Managed Your Life Like a Project? Insights from Coach Tony Weaver
    Oct 7 2025
    Summary In this episode, Andy welcomes Coach Tony Weaver, author of Project Manage Your Life: Your Blueprint for Achieving Any Goal — One Step at a Time. After decades of leading complex IT, marketing, and transformation projects, Tony turned his project management skills inward and used them to lose over 100 pounds. That journey sparked a new mission: helping others apply the same proven methods to their own goals, whether it's health, finances, career, or just finally following through on something important. In this conversation, you'll hear how to turn vague intentions into measurable, motivating goals. Tony shares how to break down big ambitions into doable milestones, track your progress without becoming a slave to the data, and stay consistent with joy instead of burnout. He unpacks what SMART goals actually look like in the real world and explains why the project mindset can transform not just what you achieve, but how you feel while doing it. If you're looking for practical ideas to move forward on goals that matter to you, at work or at home, this episode is for you! Sound Bites "Project management absolutely changed my life.""Life is agile.""Every goal is a project. Project management is just applying structure to that goal.""Your brain doesn't care about your happiness. It cares about keeping you safe. That's why it resists change.""Once you build confidence in yourself, the goal you set becomes just a jumping-off point.""Setting a goal is an act of hope. It says that tomorrow can be better than today.""Track what you can control. Influence is important, but control drives change.""Focus on the things you control. Keep an eye on the results, but don't obsess about them.""The safest place to be is in your comfort zone, not trying.""Some numbers matter. Some are interesting. Some aren't even interesting.""Letting a goal die of loneliness? That's a recipe for regret." Chapters 00:00 Introduction01:36 Start of Interview02:00 How Project Management Led to a New Mission06:14 Mentorship, Coaching, and Project Management in Life07:40 What Project Management Looks Like in Everyday Terms11:20 Why Good Intentions Don't Lead to Change13:10 Why Most People Don't Set Goals15:24 Setting a Goal as an Act of Hope18:00 Common Goal-Setting Mistakes and How to Fix Them21:30 Building a Plan that Actually Works for You23:50 Why You Should Plan Celebration, Not Just Completion24:38 How to Track Progress Without Obsessing Over Data29:20 The Danger of Focusing Too Much on Lagging Indicators30:45 Two Client Success Stories34:34 Where to Learn More About Coach Tony35:28 End of Interview36:03 Andy Comments After the Interview39:05 Outtakes Learn More You can learn more about Tony and his work at OperationMelt.com. For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 376 with Nick Sonnenberg. It's an episode about how to stop drowning in work, and though the focus is more about life on the job, there are so many ideas from Nick that can help you in your personal life.Episode 81 with Ben Snyder, where we talk about how everything is a project. We're always working on projects, and there are so many ways to apply our project knowledge to other areas of life.Episode 17 with John Wittry. It's perhaps more of a time management episode, but it's about taking back your life, and there's a theme for how project management ideas can apply. Level Up Your AI Skills During these interviews, I often mention our AI Made Simple course. Join other listeners from around the world who are taking this course to prepare for an AI-infused future. Just go to ai.PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com. Thanks! Pass the PMP Exam This Year If you or someone you know is thinking about getting PMP certified, we've put together a helpful guide called The 5 Best Resources to Help You Pass the PMP Exam on Your First Try. We've helped thousands of people earn their certification, and we'd love to help you too. It's totally free, and it's a great way to get a head start. Just go to 5BestResources.PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com to grab your copy. I'd love to help you get your PMP this year! Join Us for LEAD52 I know you want to be a more confident leader–that's why you listen to this podcast. LEAD52 is a global community of people like you who are committed to transforming their ability to lead and deliver. It's 52 weeks of leadership learning, delivered right to your inbox, taking less than 5 minutes a week. And it's all for free. Learn more and sign up at GetLEAD52.com. Thanks! Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Ways of Working Topics: Goal Setting, Project Management, Productivity, SMART Goals, Personal Growth, Behavior Change, Tracking Progress, Milestones, Motivation, Self-Leadership, Coaching, Resilience The following music was used for this episode: Music: Brooklyn Nights by Tim Kulig License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: Energetic Drive Indie Rock by WinnieTheMoog ...
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