https://www.pm-podcast.com/541 - Project leadership is more than delivering on time and budget. It is about leading people with honesty, awareness, and courage. In this episode, leadership coach and author Susanne Madsen joins Cornelius Fichtner to discuss how project managers can transform their project outcomes by developing authentic leadership. Drawing from her acclaimed book, *The Power of Project Leadership*, Susanne explains the Project Leadership Matrix, how to assess whether we are proactive or reactive, and how self-awareness is the foundation of great leadership. She also unpacks how leaders can balance people and task focus while recognizing that reactivity often stems from corporate culture rather than personality.

Susanne highlights that leadership begins with self-awareness, courage, and emotional intelligence. Using real-world examples, she shows how leaders can "feel the fear and do it anyway" when faced with tough decisions, and how to develop a deeper understanding of what drives people by recognizing their six human needs: certainty, variety, significance, connection, growth, and contribution. Together, Cornelius and Susanne discuss the natural tensions between humility and confidence, empathy and decisiveness, and how combining these traits helps leaders inspire trust and foster team alignment.

Other key insights include the importance of congruence—aligning one's purpose, values, and behaviors—and how leaders can influence upwards by building trust and communicating authentically. Susanne also shares hands-on advice for leading remote teams, maintaining human connection in virtual environments, and creating empowering team cultures. The conversation closes with three timeless takeaways: develop self-awareness, empower your team, and lead with courage even when the path isn't easy. As Susanne says, project leaders aren't in the game to take the path of least resistance—they are there to make a difference.