Have you ever wrapped up your workday thinking, “I’ve been busy all day, but I’m not sure I actually made anything better”? If so, you’re not alone, and today’s guests are here to help you break that cycle.

In this episode, Andy talks with Don Kieffer and Nelson Repenning, co-authors of the new book There’s Got to Be a Better Way. Don is a former Harley-Davidson executive who led during some of the company’s most challenging years. Nelson is a professor at MIT Sloan who studies why well-intended management tools often fail in practice. Together, they’re helping leaders rethink how work actually gets done.

In the conversation, you’ll learn why so many teams get stuck in firefighting mode, and why that’s often not a people issue but a systems issue. You’ll hear how to spot the “firefighter-arsonist” pattern, why problem-solving starts with problem-finding, and what it means to “design for discovery.” We also talk about Agile, Lean, invisible handoffs, and even how these ideas apply to family life.

If you’re looking for insights on how to make your team’s work more effective, sustainable, and human-centered, this episode is for you!

• “Most performance problems are not people problems. They're design problems.”
• “You get what you design for. And most work isn’t designed at all. It just kind of happens.”
• “Firefighting is not a character flaw. It’s a predictable output of a broken system.”
• “If you don’t make the work visible, you can’t improve it.”
• “When no one owns the handoff, it’s not really a handoff. It’s a drop.”
• “Success should be easy. That doesn’t mean the work isn’t hard, but the path to doing it well should be clear.”
• “Discovery isn’t luck. It’s a design choice.”

• 00:00 Introduction
• 01:49 Start of Interview
• 01:59 The Origin Story: How Don and Nelson Collaborated
• 07:36 Challenges in Implementing Business Tools
• 13:19 Dynamic Work Design vs. Traditional Methods
• 25:16 A Lesson from the Factory Floor
• 26:53 Identifying and Solving Problems in Teams
• 31:23 The Importance of Connecting the Human Chain
• 35:46 Making Work Visible: Strategies and Tools
• 40:34 Applying Work Strategies at Home
• 42:46 End of Interview
• 43:12 Andy Comments After the Interview
• 47:35 Outtakes

You can learn more about the book and their work at shiftgear.work/theres-got-to-be-a-better-way-book.

For more learning on this topic, check out:

• Episode 249 with Aaron Dignan about Brave New Work
• Episode 252 with Marcus Buckingham about Nine Lies About Work
• Episode 162 with Jonathan Raymond on culture and leadership mindset

Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast!

Talent Triangle: Business Acumen

Topics: Leadership, Project Management, System Design, Agile, Lean, Problem Solving, Collaboration, Organizational Effectiveness, Continuous Improvement, Work Design, Team Performance

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: Synthiemania by Frank Schroeter
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

In this candid live-stream conversation, Andy chats with content creator and project leader Stuart Taylor, the mind behind the Influential PMO platform and the Stuart Taylor Project YouTube channel. They dig into the difference between influencers and thought leaders, how to choose topics that genuinely help practitioners, and what to do when metrics don’t match the effort. Stuart shares practical strategies for building professional visibility on LinkedIn and YouTube, including how to craft resonant messages, handle trolls, and focus on service over self-promotion.

The discussion also explores Stuart’s experiment asking whether AI could manage a project. Spoiler: AI is a strong team member for first drafts and research, but a weak project manager. They wrap with career advice for today’s shifting job market, including why to think like an internal consultant and how to future-proof your career by learning in public.

If you’re looking for insights on personal branding, creator tactics, and AI’s real role in project work, this episode is for you!

• Regarding AI: "It cannot be the project manager. It's spineless. It is a weakling leader."
• "There is no such thing as a permanent job anymore."
• “Share what you know and people will be drawn to you for what you are sharing.”
• “Learn to make a resonating message. Learn how to share value.”
• “I never did this to become internet famous… What problem do I want to solve? That’s it.”
• “Because you don't understand how the algorithm works. You think your whole network's ignoring you, and in fact, all that's happened is maybe less than 10% of your network has seen the message before the algorithm realized that your message wasn't resonating.”
• “It will be the penny pinching execs who want to save a few dollars, who will take your job, and they'll replace it with a machine that can do 50% of your job for a fraction of your price, and they'll live with the 50% they can't do.”

• 00:00 Start of Live Stream
• 02:13 Thoughts on Influencers and Thought Leaders
• 05:28 Deciding on Video Content
• 07:34 Views and Metrics
• 14:41 The Creative Process and Challenges
• 18:28 Sharing Knowledge and Building a Community
• 18:49 Navigating Social Media: The Good, The Bad, and The Trolls
• 19:18 Handling Criticism and Building Connections
• 24:37 The Role of AI in Project Management
• 29:10 The Future of Work: AI, Automation, and Adaptation
• 36:24 Staying Curious and Embracing Change

You can learn more about Stuart and his work here:

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/skt
• Website: InfluentialPMO.com
• YouTube: Stuart Taylor Project

Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast!

Talent Triangle: Business Acumen

Topics: Leadership, Project Management, Content Strategy, Personal Branding, Career Development, LinkedIn, Artificial Intelligence, Communication, Influence, Stakeholder Engagement, Future Of Work, Creator Economy

The following music was used for this episode:

Music: Echo by Alexander Nakarada
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Music: Chillhouse by Frank Schroeter
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

When you hear the word negotiation, what comes to mind?

A boardroom showdown? A salary discussion?

In this episode, Andy welcomes back Dr. Mike Clayton, author of How to Negotiate: Practical and Proven Skills to Help You Strike Better Deals to unpack the truth about negotiating. Mike brings clarity, wisdom, and practicality to a skill that project managers and frontline leaders use more often than they might realize.

In this conversation, you'll learn why negotiation is not a talent you're born with. Rather, it's a skill you can build. Mike explains how to prepare effectively, how to open conversations the right way, and how to bargain in ways that foster agreement, not conflict. You'll discover surprising examples of everyday negotiations, phrases that help (and hurt) rapport, and even ideas to help your kids become more confident negotiators. If you're looking for insights on how to lead through conversations that matter, this episode is for you!

• “Negotiation is a process of searching for an agreement that satisfies both parties.”
• “You can become a good negotiator the same way you become a good leader: by learning and practicing.”
• “Building agreement on agreement is easier than building agreement on disagreement.”
• "What will you get when you’ve got it? Because that’s the motivator."
• “If we respect each other and follow a process, we can negotiate even in tough situations.”
• “The phrases that are best for building rapport are questions.”
• “Signposting the junction means alerting our counterparty that we think we’re coming to the point where we need to stop.”
• “Your credibility is currency. Character and trust are foundational in negotiation.”
• “Almost every conversation where two people want different things is a negotiation.”
• “It's okay to negotiate. It's okay to walk away. And it's okay to not always win.”

• 00:00 Introduction
• 01:50 Start of Interview
• 01:04 Understanding Negotiation as a Skill
• 02:01 Common Myths About Negotiation
• 05:39 The Process of Negotiation
• 12:31 Preparing for a Negotiation
• 16:12 Opening a Negotiation
• 23:05 Introduction to Feedback and Negotiation
• 23:43 Breaking Down Feedback
• 24:42 The Yes Mindset in Negotiation
• 25:56 Building Rapport in Negotiation
• 27:40 The Light and Dark Sides of Language
• 29:08 Signposting the Junction in Negotiation
• 31:47 Establishing Character in Negotiation
• 34:21 Teaching Kids to Negotiate
• 38:34 End of Interview
• 39:01 Andy Comments After the Interview
• 42:09 Outtakes

You can find Mike’s content and negotiation advice at his YouTube channel: OnlinePMCourses.

For more learning on negotiation, check out these episodes:

• Episode 444 with Rick Czaplewski, who provides negotiating secrets for project managers
• Episode 412 with Scott Walker, who provides insights from a former hostage negotiator
• Episode 148 with Dan Shapiro: High-stakes negotiation from a Harvard expert

Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast!

Talent Triangle: Power Skills

Topics: Leadership, Negotiation, Communication, Emotional Intelligence, Project Management, Influence, Rapport Building, Conflict Resolution, Trust, Team Collaboration, Process Thinking, Parenting

The following music was used for this episode:

Music: Summer Awakening by Frank Schroeter
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Music: Chillhouse by Frank Schroeter
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

In this episode, Andy welcomes Jon Harper, author of Rebuild! Don't Repair: Why Fixing Things Doesn't Fix Things in Life. Jon shares from his personal and professional journey about the courage it takes to stop settling for temporary fixes and instead do the deeper, more intentional work of rebuilding. Drawing on lessons from his leadership experience and faith-based insights, Jon invites listeners to consider how our beliefs, habits, and leadership defaults often stem from foundations we didn’t consciously choose.

The conversation covers when to rebuild rather than repair, how to evaluate the people around us during transformation, and why awkwardness is often a sign of real change. Jon shares stories about quitting alcohol as a coping mechanism and the daily habits that keep him focused and grounded. He also offers a practical approach to helping children process their day—something leaders can adapt for teams, too.

If you're leading a team, a project, or a personal transition and want to build something stronger and more lasting, this episode is for you!

• “We had duct tape where we should lay new concrete.”
• “People who are part of the solution are those willing to say, 'I am the problem and I can be the solution.'”
• “None of us really experiences life. We experience the life we focus on.”
• “Actions tell them who we are. Words tell them who we want to be.”
• “If you are asking for big things in your life, a lot of success is being able to deal with bigger amounts of stress in a better way.”
• “Our parents weren’t making conscious, informed, well-rounded, intentional decisions to shape us the way we are. They just did the best with what they had.”
• “My main goal in life is to be respected the most by those who know me the most.”

• 00:00 Introduction
• 02:03 Start of Interview
• 02:12 Why Duct Tape Solutions are so Tempting
• 04:23 Rebuilding Is Messy
• 06:17 Are People the Problem or the Solution?
• 09:18 You Have to Own It
• 10:26 Foundations and Their Impact on Leadership
• 15:10 Personal Stories of Rebuilding
• 18:07 Daily Habits and Their Long-term Impact
• 20:35 The Importance of the Journey Over the Destination
• 22:44 The Illusion of the Finish Line
• 24:29 The Importance of Associations
• 27:54 Actions Speak Louder Than Words
• 31:30 Parenting Insights from the Book
• 36:54 End of Interview
• 37:28 Andy Comments After the Interview
• 40:08 Outtakes

You can learn more about Jon and his work at JonHarper.co.

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!

Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast!

Talent Triangle: Power Skills

Topics: Leadership, Self-Development, Change Management, Team Dynamics, Habits, Identity, Ownership, Resilience, Personal Growth, Emotional Intelligence, Parenting, Workplace Culture

The following music was used for this episode:

Music: Imagefilm 034 by Sascha Ende
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