• PPP 501 | Hope Is Not a Strategy… Or Is It?, with author Jen Fisher
    2026/03/10
    Summary In this episode, Andy welcomes Jen Fisher, author of Hope Is the Strategy: The Underrated Skill That Transforms Work, Leadership, and Wellbeing. In project management circles, we often hear the phrase "hope is not a strategy." Jen challenges that assumption, arguing that real hope is not wishful thinking at all. Instead, it's a practical cognitive process that can help leaders navigate uncertainty, pressure, and change. In the discussion, Jen explains how hope requires three elements: clear goals, multiple pathways to reach them, and the agency to believe we can influence outcomes. You'll also hear her personal story of realizing she was languishing under constant performance pressure, and how a candid conversation with her boss sparked the beginning of a healthier and more hopeful way of working. Along the way, Jen shares practical tools such as possibility journaling, energy ledgers, and hope spotting. She also explains why vulnerability can be a leadership superpower and how simple language shifts can turn hope killers into hope builders. If you're leading teams and projects under constant pressure and looking for practical ways to sustain both performance and wellbeing, this episode is for you! Sound Bites "How would I describe myself? I'm a hope dealer.""Hope is not flimsy. It's not whimsical.""Real hope actually requires action.""What drives hopelessness is feeling like there's nothing you can do.""Hope is the belief that tomorrow can be better than today.""67% of managers said that they've never been trained in how to manage other people. We put humans in charge of other humans, but we give them very little skill and training in how to lead.""You can perform when you're languishing, but the question is really why should we or why would we want to.""For the first time in my professional life, I actually felt seen and heard and valued.""Toxic positivity only makes people feel worse.""Possibility journaling is really thinking about what might be possible here.""Vulnerability is proof that you're human.""When people are feeling uncertain, they want to connect to somebody that feels human." Chapters 00:00 Introduction01:45 Start of Interview02:00 What Hope Is Not: Clearing Up the Misconceptions03:45 What Real Hope Actually Requires05:42 Agency and the Feeling of Hopelessness06:24 Burnout vs. Hopelessness: Is There a Difference?07:55 Wellbeing Intelligence: The Leadership Skill We're Missing11:44 Languishing: That Gray Space Between Fine and Flourishing14:15 The Hidden Cost of Time Pressure on Creativity17:00 Breaking Through the High-Functioning Facade20:15 Setting Boundaries as a Recovering People Pleaser24:03 Practical Tools: Possibility Journal, Energy Ledger, and Hope Spotting29:15 Vulnerability as a Leadership Superpower33:46 Hope Killers and Hope Builders: The Language of Hope38:00 The Hope Audit and the Hope Strategist Toolkit39:33 Applying Hope at Home and as a Caregiver41:30 Where to Learn More About Jen41:26 End of Interview41:54 Andy Comments After the Interview45:18 Outtakes Learn More You can learn more about Jen and her work at Jen-Fisher.com. For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 462 with Margie Warrell. Part of Jen's message in the book is the importance of agency—of believing that you're not a victim and that you have options. Margie is a fierce advocate for how to take action when you're feeling hopeless. I highly recommend her work.Episode 448 with Marie-Hélène Pelletier. It's an engaging discussion about burnout and resilience, and a fantastic follow-up to this discussion with Jen.Episode 396 with Thomas Curran. It's an episode on perfectionism, and I think you'll find it an excellent follow-up to this discussion as well. Chat with PMeLa You can chat directly with PMeLa, the podcast's AI persona, to get episode recommendations and answers to your project management and leadership questions. Visit PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com/PMeLa to chat with her. 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, Wellbeing, Burnout, Hope, ...
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    47 分
  • PPP 500 | When AI Becomes a Digital Colleague: What Leaders Need to Know, with former Google DeepMind Futurist Steve Brown
    2026/03/06
    Summary Welcome to our 500th episode! To celebrate this milestone, Andy talks with Steve Brown, AI futurist, keynote speaker, and author of The AI Ultimatum: Preparing for a World of Intelligent Machines and Radical Transformation. Steve brings a rare perspective shaped by years at Intel and Google DeepMind, and today helps organizations navigate two vital questions: what future do you want to build with AI, and what future do you want to avoid? They explore why waiting isn't actually the safe option it feels like, how to think about the different "flavors" of AI beyond just generative tools, and what it really means to orchestrate humans, AI agents, and robots together in the workplace. Steve introduces three types of AI agents—offload, elevate, and extend—and explains the crucial difference between automating tasks and truly transforming how work gets done. You'll also hear his candid take on the fear of being replaced and why doubling down on your humanity is the smartest career move you can make right now. If you're looking for a practical, empowering guide to leading through the AI revolution—without the hype—this episode is for you! Sound Bites "The difference between an AI-enabled or AI-first company and an AI laggard is going to be so great that if you don't get on the train, you may get to the point where you can never catch up.""Your competitors who have embraced AI faster than you are going to be just kicking your butt all over town.""There's a serious cost to inaction in that you can become made irrelevant.""The danger with that is you may automate yourself. It may automate away all of the differentiation you have in your brand and your company.""AI is this sort of amplification technology, and the challenge is to balance cost-cutting and value creation.""Each flavor of AI is useful for solving a different type of business problem.""It feels like a digital employee, right? A digital worker that works for you.""It's taking the suck out of your job.""The real opportunity here, is to transform the way you do work rather than just try and automate away tasks or people.""The workplace of the future is going to be three groups. Humans will still be in the workforce. Great! Go us!""You won't be replaced by an AI or a robot. You'll be replaced by someone who knows how to use AI better than you do.""Double down on your humanity.""Focus on building the skills that cannot be replaced, or at least won't be replaced by machines anytime soon.""At the end of all of this is going to be lives of abundance, where we have the things that we need." Chapters 00:00 Introduction01:45 Start of Interview01:54 Steve's Career Journey from Intel to DeepMind05:00 Understanding the AI Ultimatum08:23 Our First AI Moments09:32 The Flavors of AI13:54 Three Pathways to Creating Value with AI15:11 Automation vs. Transformation17:10 Orchestrating Humans, AI, and Robots19:01 Real-World Examples of AI Agents21:33 Physically Intelligent Robots in the Workplace24:13 Addressing Fear and Resistance to AI26:44 Preparing the Next Generation for the AI Age29:56 Where to Learn More About Steve31:01 End of Interview31:38 Andy Comments After the Interview36:23 Outtakes Learn More You can learn more about Steve and his work at SteveBrown.ai. For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 479 with Matt Mong. It's a discussion about the AI skills you need to stay relevant.Episode 454 with Christie Smith. She talks about how AI is changing leadership, and what we can do about that now.Episode 437 with Nada Sanders. It's a discussion about future-prepping your career in an age of AI. You can also chat directly with PMeLa—the podcast's AI persona—to get episode recommendations and answers to your project management and leadership questions. Visit PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com/PMeLa to chat with her. 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...
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    41 分
  • PPP 499 | How Much of Success Is Luck or Something Else, with Wharton's Judd Kessler
    2026/02/21
    Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Wharton economist Judd Kessler, author of Lucky by Design: The Hidden Economics You Need to Get More of What You Want. If you have ever looked at someone else's career success and thought, "They just got lucky," this conversation will give you a new lens. Judd introduces the idea of "hidden markets," the informal rules and systems that shape who gets opportunities, access, and scarce resources, even when money is not changing hands. They explore how leaders can evaluate allocation rules using Judd's three Es (equitable, efficient, and easy), why first come, first served "races" often reward availability more than merit, and how waiting lists can quietly shift costs onto the people least able to pay them. You will also hear Judd's "settle for silver" strategy, a practical way to make smarter choices in competitive markets, plus a thoughtful parenting angle on teaching kids to notice rules and incentives early. If you're looking for a fresh, research-backed perspective on how hidden rules shape who gets opportunities at work and in life, this episode is for you! Sound Bites "The goal of the book is to get people to start to recognizing these markets all around us.""In most of these markets, they play by a simple rule that we all understand, which is if you're willing to pay for the thing, then you get it.""Is the way that we're deciding who gets what... is it equitable? Is it efficient? And is it easy for market participants?""I open my calendar and I see all these recurring meetings on my calendar, recurring meetings that were set up years or months ago. That's first in time, first in right.""If you understand the rules and develop strategies to get what you want from the market, then you actually can be one of the handful that actually gets the thing, that desirable outcome, and then it will look like you got lucky.""It's always going to be the folks who are in the market winning who are always going to think that it's fair.""Once you start thinking like, how am I actually allocating these things? That's when you've put on that market designer hat.""They'll come to you kind of with half-baked ideas because they know if they wait later on until they can fully bake the idea that the resources or the fun parts of the project might already be gone.""Part of what the Settle for Silver / Go for Gold Strategy is forcing you to do, is to think seriously about what you want and why you want it.""You, as a parent, you are designing the markets that your kids play in all the time.""We're not breaking the rules, but we are figuring out what they are so that we can put ourselves in a good position, and that's going to serve you well.""Maybe by being in the office, you are signaling your dedication to the firm that you're available for all of these opportunities.""If it's something that anybody can do, like send a quick email, right? That's, it's not actually costly. Anybody could send that email even if they're not truly dedicated and eager for the opportunity.""You cannot get all three E's for sure in any allocation mechanism. There's always going to be tradeoffs." Chapters 00:00 Introduction01:41 Start of Interview01:49 Growing Up and Thinking About Luck03:00 Introducing Hidden Markets07:10 The Three E's: Equitable, Efficient, and Easy08:08 Live Event Tickets as a Case Study12:50 High Frequency Trading and Hidden Races15:21 Common Misunderstandings of the Three E's17:04 Races Inside Organizations and Project Teams20:25 Proximity, Signaling, and Opportunity at Work23:03 Are We Selecting for the Right Behavior?25:41 Stepping Back to Evaluate Your Own Systems25:52 Colorado River Water Rights and Recurring Meetings29:09 The Settle for Silver Strategy30:57 The French Laundry Reservation Story32:51 Settle for Silver in College Admissions37:22 Helping Kids Recognize Rules and Incentives41:03 End of Interview41:32 Andy Comments After the Interview44:34 Outtakes Learn More You can learn more about Judd and his work at JuddBKessler.com/book. For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 265, a short video episode Andy put together about the topic of luck. Check it out!Episode 339 with Katy Milkman. Katy is the person who gave Andy the heads-up about Judd's book. In episode 339, they talk about her book How to Change: The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be. It's a great discussion with another researcher who knows how to make the learning practical for all of us.Episode 372 with Annie Duke. Annie is a former world champion poker player who is a big fan of Judd's book. How does a poker player think about luck? Check out episode 372 to find out! 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 ...
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    46 分
  • PPP 498 | Have Better Conversations: Small Moves That Save Projects and Relationships, with Joe Ferraro
    2026/02/16
    Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Joe Ferraro, host of the One Percent Better podcast and a coach who helps leaders have stronger conversations when the stakes are high. If you lead projects, you know how quickly a meeting, a status update, or a feedback moment can either build trust or quietly drain it. Joe shares small, practical moves that make conversations more memorable and more useful. You will hear why being "good at talking" is not the same as being good at conversation, and how preparation can be a generous act toward the other person. They also discuss how to avoid default, predictable questions, how to turn a one-way presentation into something more interactive, and how to keep your composure when you feel defensive. Joe even offers a simple technique for pressure testing ideas without starting a fight, plus a listening cue you can use the next time you feel tempted to jump in. If you're looking for insights on having better conversations that save projects and strengthen relationships, this episode is for you! Sound Bites "And you know what's a great barometer there is for people listening to ask themselves on a daily basis? How many questions do they ask?""But the reality is a generous conversation is one where you're prepared.""And the easiest path, the simplest path is to ask more questions and then listen, like your life depends on it.""The human ear driving, or on the treadmill or in a board meeting doesn't want to hear the same length answer every time from Andy or Joe or Sheila.""If you feel like you're bursting at the seams and you need to share something, that's when you know to hold it in and to focus on them.""I teach people the technique of inserting devil's advocate, where you, you don't wanna necessarily become the villain, but you say, you know, Andy, you know, it's a great point.""But when I go back to, to Mitch Albom one time, he paused seven seconds before I asked him, before he answered the question.""If you have a recorded conversation, simply ask it to pull out every question that was asked.""My favorite question to ask is the one that I think will elicit the best response for what I'm interested in learning in this moment." Chapters 00:00 Introduction01:44 Start of Interview02:04 When Conversation Became More Than Talking04:32 Curiosity as a Practical Advantage05:47 Sending Questions Ahead of Time06:49 Why Most Real Conversations Feel Like Improv07:40 A Recent Conversation Joe Still Thinks About09:44 What Makes a Conversation Actually Memorable11:14 How Joe's Background Shaped His Approach12:47 Breaking the Habit of Predictable Answers13:54 The Risk of Chasing "Standard" Questions15:16 Using Recording as a Growth Tool16:29 How to Build Better Listening Discipline18:38 Turning a One-Way Presentation Into Conversation20:12 What to Do When You Need Real Buy-In21:44 The Listening Cue to Use When You Want to Jump In23:34 Helping Others Feel Heard Without Hijacking the Moment24:30 Staying Composed When You Feel Defensive27:27 Using "Devil's Advocate" Without Becoming the Villain30:15 When the Best Move Is to Pause32:25 How to Ask Questions That Create Better Stories33:43 The Question That Fits the Moment36:19 What Joe Thinks People Get Wrong About "Small Talk"39:12 Interviewers Joe Thinks More People Should Study45:13 Using AI to Improve Your Conversations49:20 What Joe Sees Changing in Communication Skills50:00 Helping Kids Build Conversational Stamina53:26 Where to Learn More About Joe54:42 End of Interview55:08 Andy Comments After the Interview57:56 Outtakes Learn More You can learn more about Joe and his work here: OnePercentBetterProject.comJoe on XJoe on LinkedIn For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 380 with Monica Guzman. It's about navigating stressful conversations with people you don't agree with.Episode 284 with Peter Boghossian. It's another episode on conversations that seem impossible. Think of difficult bosses and other stakeholders.Episode 195 with Celeste Headlee. She's an NPR anchor who first introduced me to the idea of conversational narcissism. 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...
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    1 時間 4 分
  • PPP 497 | A Practical System for Navigating Chaos, with author Richard Carson
    2026/02/12
    Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Richard Carson, author of The Book of Change. If you feel like you barely finish one change before the next one hits, this conversation is for you. Richard shares his deeply researched and battle-tested framework called People Sustained Organizational Change Management, or PSOCM. Unlike many change management books, this is not about certifications or slogans. It is about building a repeatable system to diagnose problems, distinguish adaptive from transformational change, and gain executive traction when support is not automatic. You will hear why so many change efforts fail before they even begin, how to craft a clear problem statement, and what leaders often misunderstand about the type of change they are facing. Richard also explains why he chose the phrase "People Sustained" and how thinking structurally about change can even help at home. If you're looking for practical, grounded insights on leading through continuous change, this episode is for you! Sound Bites "My advice to you is to anticipate change and manage change before it manages you.""Different change models have been introduced in the literature, but there has not been one coherent model for managing organizational change.""PSOCM is driven by defined actions with statistical metrics that produce measurable results.""You get a free book and the next thing you know you're getting the pitch to hire them at an exorbitant amount of money per hour.""Organizations consist of people, and it is the people who are primarily the problem.""Change management is proactive. Emergency management is reactive.""It is not productive to put the organization on the couch and ask, 'Well, what do you think?'""You can change a process, but you cannot change a person's underlying psychology.""You now own it, or it now owns you." Chapters 00:00 Introduction01:40 Start of Interview01:54 Family Culture and Early Influences03:58 Criticisms of Change Management Books and Certifications06:15 Defining Organizational Change Management in Plain Talk07:44 What Surprised Him in the History of Change10:57 Adaptive vs. Transformational Change14:23 Why He Named It People Sustained Organizational Change Management20:03 Problem Identification and Writing Effective Problem Statements24:31 Getting Executive Support When Change Is Not Top Down26:49 When Benefits Do Not Move Leaders28:21 One More Idea to Anticipate Change Before It Manages You30:03 Applying Change Lessons at Home as a Parent31:36 End of Interview32:38 Andy Comments After the Interview35:31 Outtakes Learn More You can learn more about Richard and his work at RichardCarson.org. Make sure to get the free ebook download. For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 343 with Gary Lloyd. He has a clever metaphor of thinking about change like a gardener, not a mechanic. It's a great discussion that I think you'll find quite practical.Episode 344 with Peter Bregman and Howie Jacobson. Their book is about change, but not at the organizational level. They think you can change other people, which sounds presumptuous at the least. But they back that up in the interview so check out episode 344 for more.Episode 53 with John Kotter. He's one of the most famous names when it comes to change management. Go way back to episode 53 to hear from John directly. 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! Talent Triangle: Business Acumen Topics: Change Management, Organizational Change, Leadership, Executive Sponsorship, Problem Identification, Adaptive Change, Transformational Change, Strategic Thinking, Organizational Culture, Project Leadership, Continuous Improvement, Stakeholder Engagement The following music was used for this episode: Music: Lullaby of Light feat Cory Friesenhan by Sascha Ende 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 Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast!
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    39 分
  • PPP 496 | How to Deliver Faster with Less Stress. In the Trenches with Norman Patnode
    2026/02/11
    Summary In this In the Trenches episode, Andy talks with Norman Patnode, Principal at ProChain Solutions, about what it really takes to deliver projects faster and more predictably. With a background in aerospace engineering, the Air Force, and decades of consulting, Norman brings a systems-level perspective to project delivery that goes far beyond managing task lists. They explore the difference between task management and project management, why critical chain thinking shifts the conversation from dates to priorities, and how changing a few key rules can dramatically improve delivery performance. Norman shares why "prioritize, focus, and finish" is more than a slogan, how multitasking quietly robs teams of productivity, and what leaders can do to create clarity and alignment. You'll also hear insights about managing constraints, learning how to learn, and why curiosity is one of the most valuable leadership traits. If you're looking for practical, systems-based ways to improve delivery and reduce chaos on your projects, this episode is for you! Sound Bites "Critical chain is a system to help you get projects done faster and more predictably.""Critical chain is really about how do we help people prioritize, focus, and finish.""I would never go back to what I was doing before. It has ruined me. I just wouldn't live in that world again.""Multitasking robs project teams of anywhere from 15 to 65% of their productivity.""If there are no priorities, then really none of them are important.""The focus is not on getting to a perfect schedule. It's on creating and strengthening alignment of the team's effort.""Reality is undefeated.""Any system has a very few number of constraints, usually one.""If you manage the constraint, you manage the system.""You don't have to learn everything. You just have to be curious and learn how to learn.""Big, impactful things in the world get done through projects." Chapters 00:00 Introduction01:33 Start of Interview01:41 Norman's Current Role and Responsibilities02:20 Norman's Career Journey07:00 Task Management vs. True Project Management10:40 Introducing Critical Chain15:41 Common Objections to Critical Chain17:20 Changing the Rules to Improve Delivery22:56 A Powerful Leadership Habit25:54 Career Lessons and Critical Turning Points31:32 How Norman Continues to Develop Himself35:53 How to Connect with Norman36:17 End of Interview36:56 Andy Comments After the Interview40:37 Outtakes Learn More You can learn more about Norman and his work at ProChain.com. Connect with Norman on LinkedIn here: LinkedIn.com/in/npatnode/ For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 472 with Mark Reich. It's a discussion about lean, which is certainly not precisely the same as critical chain or theory of constraints. But Mark is similarly geeky about how to improve how we go about projects. I think you'll find episode 472 a great follow-up to today's discussion.Episode 328 with Terry Schmidt. Terry's passion is LogFrame, and though it's different from what we talked about today, Terry's geekiness for LogFrame could inspire you to think differently about projects.Episode 320 with Greg Githins. Greg wrote a book about thinking strategically. All I'll say is that if you and I could sit with these three guests and talk over coffee, we'd have quite an insightful and interesting chat! 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: Ways of Working Topics: Project Management, Critical Chain, Theory of Constraints, Prioritization, Focus, Multitasking, Systems Thinking, Leadership Development, Constraint Management, Risk Management, Strategic Execution, 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: Fashion Corporate by Frank Schroeter License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
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    45 分
  • PPP 495 | Your Layoff Survival Playbook: Lessons from The Layoff Journey, with Steve Jaffe
    2026/02/06
    Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Steve Jaffe, author of The Layoff Journey: From Dismissal to Discovery. Steve has been laid off four times over the course of his career, and those experiences shaped a thoughtful, practical framework for navigating the emotional and professional aftermath of job loss. Andy and Steve explore why layoffs feel so personal even when we are told they are not, how identity often gets tangled up with job titles, and why the emotional response to a layoff closely mirrors the stages of grief. Steve explains why those stages are not linear, what denial, pain, and negotiation really look like in practice, and why trying to rush straight to acceptance can backfire. You will also hear practical advice for leaders who must conduct layoffs, as well as guidance for professionals who worry they might be laid off in the future. From preserving dignity in difficult conversations to preparing financially, emotionally, and professionally before uncertainty hits, this discussion offers insight for both sides of the table. If you are navigating uncertainty, supporting others through change, or simply want to be better prepared for whatever comes next, this episode is for you! Sound Bites "I wanted to give people a roadmap to process their layoff and the grief of their layoff in months rather than years.""One of the things that makes losing a job difficult is we tie our identity up in what we do.""And then in that period, before you've landed your next job, you're in this messy middle of Who am I?""Define yourself not by what you do, but by who you are and what you bring to the table.""I've seen people be named Employee of the Year in January, and by June they're getting laid off.""Layoffs don't measure your worth. They measure a company's priorities.""The stages of grief are not linear. You can feel all of them in one day.""Your job title is not who you are.""Acceptance can become a way to skip discomfort instead of dealing with loss.""If you don't process the grief, it shows up later as baggage.""Dignity matters in the first minutes of a layoff conversation.""You want to build your network before you need it.""The person you were before a layoff will not be the same person after." Chapters 00:00 Introduction01:45 Start of Interview02:00 From First Layoff to Fourth: Taking It Personally02:50 How the Layoff Process Has Changed Over Time06:52 The Messy Middle Between Job Loss and What's Next10:40 Why the Stages of Grief Apply to Layoffs14:07 What Denial Looked Like in Steve's Experience17:19 Balancing Emotional Honesty and Professional Reputation22:08 The Quote That Opens the Book23:00 Can You Jump to Acceptance Too Quickly?24:58 When Past Layoffs Create Baggage at the Next Job26:42 Advice for Leaders Who Have to Do Layoffs28:55 Handling Performance-Based Separations with Integrity30:40 How to Prepare Now If You Worry About Being Laid Off32:46 End of Interview33:33 Andy Comments After the Interview37:37 Outtakes Learn More You can learn more about Steve and his work at TheSteveJaffe.com. For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 163. A short three-minute video Andy put together about what to do before losing your job.Episode 310 with Jeff Gothelf, about how to let your next job find you.Episode 230 with Scott Belsky. Not specifically about layoffs, but full of insights on careers, growth, and the hiring process. Level Up Your AI Skills In the outtakes, Andy and Steve talk about how AI is changing the workplace. If you want to be better prepared for an AI-infused future, check out our AI Made Simple course. 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. 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 five 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, Layoffs, Career Transitions, Organizational Change, Emotional Intelligence, Resilience, Identity at Work, Grief, Workforce Planning, Change Management, Professional Development 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://...
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    41 分
  • PPP 494 | How to Stay Poised When Everything Starts to Slip, with author Andrew Wittman
    2026/01/29
    Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Dr. Andrew Wittman, former Marine, police officer, federal agent, and leadership coach, about his new book Inner Armor: Perpetual Resilience. If you lead projects and teams, you already know pressure is coming. The real question is what you do when it arrives. Andrew explains why the brain can work against you under stress, and how the questions you ask yourself shape the options you can see. You'll learn the Two Minute Rule and how it can help you shift from "we can't" thinking into problem-solving mode. Andy and Andrew also explore how filters and assumptions influence what leaders notice, why limitation can be more dangerous than fear, and what it looks like to build a First Responder Mindset so you can hold your poise when stakeholders push back. They close with a powerful discussion on identity and a practical look at raising resilient kids. If you're looking for insights on leading with clarity and composure when the stakes are high, this episode is for you! Sound Bites "The first thing you have to understand about the brain is that it is the original search engine. Like it has to answer a question.""The brain knows that you're a genius. Even if you don't consciously recognize that you're a genius, your brain knows it. It'll never go against your genius self. So if you say things like, I don't know how we could do this, your brain says, 'Oh, we don't know.' So it stops searching completely for any answer.""Just for two minutes, pretend that you could do it. It's amazing that your brain will just go to work and find like 15 ways you actually could do it, whereas seconds ago, we thought we couldn't.""When bad news happens, get happy. Whenever you hear bad news, you should get happy because this is your biggest opportunity to have the greatest comeback ever.""My question is, no matter what the bad news is, I'm going to ask myself this: how can I use this to my greatest possible advantage?""I want to know what the holes in this project are. I don't want to hear rainbows and sunshine, right? Positive thinking will get you killed quicker than negative thinking.""We take in 11 million bits of information per second. Every second we see, hear, feel, touch, 11 million bits. Only 126 bits go to our conscious mind for action, which means we're filtering out 99.9% of all that information.""When you walk into a room, and you think no one supports you, you're going to see every cue that you could find to back that up. And you'll discard anything that would go against that.""The world is always ready to define you if you don't define yourself.""My identity: I'm a man of excellence who always keeps his word. I aspire to always keep my word. And so everything that I do is pre-decided by that identity.""Excellence is if I give my best effort, I could sleep tonight.""Welcome to Planet Earth, everybody has to deal with the externals. It's the great equalizer. We all have to deal with it. You're not special. I hate to tell you, CEO, you're not special.""Those pressure situations, they don't create your habits. They actually reveal them." Chapters 00:00 Introduction01:40 Start of Interview02:07 Andrew's Backstory and Early Influences04:23 Unhelpful Questions Under Pressure and the Two Minute Rule07:27 Applying the Two Minute Rule When a Key Dependency Slips12:12 Training Practices to Make Resilience Automatic16:49 Recognizing When Your Filter Is the Real Problem18:33 Exposing Assumptions and Filters in Project Plans22:21 A Personal Example of Misreading a Situation25:10 How Beliefs Shape What You Notice in a Room27:35 Why Limitation Is More Dangerous Than Fear32:02 Building a First Responder Mindset and Holding Poise36:07 Identity and Defining Yourself40:37 Parenting Practices That Build Resilience in Kids43:17 End of Interview43:42 Andy Comments After the Interview47:47 Outtakes Learn More You can learn more about Andrew and his work at GetWarriorTough.com. For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 448 with Marie-Helene Pelletier. It's an insightful discussion on resilience and burnout, and I think it would be a great follow-up to this discussion with Andrew.Episode 477 with Jess Baker. She's a business psychologist and coach who offers a refreshing perspective on how to increase your resilience at work and in life.Episode 398 with Dr. Neha Sangwan. It's an episode that will give you another perspective on avoiding burnout for you and your teams. 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...
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    49 分