エピソード

  • PPP 491 | What a Children's Book Can Teach Leaders About Fear, with former news anchor Lynn Smith

    PPP 491 | What a Children's Book Can Teach Leaders About Fear, with former news anchor Lynn Smith
    2026/01/13
    Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Lynn Smith, former NBC News, MSNBC, and CNN Headline News anchor, executive communication coach, and author of Just Keep Going. Lynn is best known for helping Fortune 500 leaders turn pressure into presence, but her newest book takes an unexpected form: a children's story about fear, resilience, and perseverance. That surprising choice is exactly what makes this conversation so relevant for leaders. Andy and Lynn explore why the same fears that stop CEOs are often the ones that show up in kids, how our inner critic or "Brain Bully" shapes behavior under pressure, and why the goal is not to eliminate fear but to metabolize it. Lynn shares deeply personal stories about rejection, family influence, and the lessons she learned growing up that shaped her approach to leadership and communication. You'll also hear practical techniques leaders can use to calm their nervous systems, give feedback that actually helps instead of harms, and model resilience for their teams and families. If you lead people or projects and want practical insights on emotional intelligence, confidence, and navigating fear, this episode is for you. Sound Bites "The one trait and the one skill that separates us from success is resilience. If you can acquire that skill, you will be successful. Hard stop.""Your greatest failure can be in service of somebody else.""We are biologically wired for fear. Trying to delete it is a fool's journey.""Bravery is doing something even if you are afraid.""How you show up within one tenth of a second is defining you for your audience.""Feedback leads to growth. Criticism feeds the brain bully.""When we calm our nervous system, we can make better decisions.""There's a mouse in all of us that needs the reminder to just keep going.""Ending what doesn't serve you is not quitting.""Fear often shows up as stress, pressure, or imposter syndrome, but it's the same circuitry.""Resilience is the greatest gift we can give our kids and our teams." Chapters 00:00 Introduction01:45 Start of Interview01:55 Family Influence and Early Experiences06:45 Recognizing the Brain Bully12:28 Learning Resilience Over Time14:08 Giving Feedback That Helps Instead of Hurts15:50 Metabolizing Fear Instead of Eliminating It20:05 Rejection and the Origin of the Book23:00 Strategies from the Book for Big Feelings26:15 The Business Equivalent of Jumping Up and Down28:50 When Just Keep Going Does Not Apply31:50 How Lynn and Her Team Help Leaders34:10 End of Interview34:47 Andy Comments After the Interview37:30 Outtakes Learn More You can learn more about Lynn and her work at LynnSmith.com. For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 462 with Margie Warrell, about going from playing it safe to speaking up.Episode 397 with Dr. Julia DiGangi, a discussion Andy continues to revisit for practical insights.Episode 394 with Joshua Freedman, one of the leading voices on emotional intelligence. Level Up Your AI Skills During the episode, Andy mentions the importance of preparing for an AI-infused future. Join other listeners from around the world who are taking 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. It's totally free and a great way to get a head start. Just go to 5BestResources.PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com to grab your copy. 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 leaders 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 free. Learn more and sign up at GetLEAD52.com. Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast! Talent Triangle: Power Skills Topics: Leadership, Emotional Intelligence, Resilience, Fear Management, Communication Skills, Executive Presence, Feedback, Confidence, Self Leadership, Team Culture, Project Leadership 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: Tuesday by Sasha Ende License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
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    45 分
  • PPP 490 | Why Psychology Might Be Hurting Your Team, with Barry Wolfe

    PPP 490 | Why Psychology Might Be Hurting Your Team, with Barry Wolfe
    2026/01/10
    Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Barry Wolfe, author of It's All In Your Head: Why Psychology Doesn't Help Your Workforce Deliver Value - And What Can. Barry is a seasoned HR executive and business leader who has built a reputation as one of the rare "HR guys who actually has a head for business." In this frank and eye-opening conversation, Barry challenges many of the tools and ideas we've come to rely on in leadership and management. Andy and Barry discuss why frameworks like Maslow's hierarchy may be doing more harm than good, how personality assessments can become limiting narratives, and why our obsession with "fit" often backfires. But this isn't just a critique. Barry offers an alternative in the form of Value-Centric Leadership, a model that reframes how we think about work, leadership, and results. You'll learn about tools like The Same Page and the 4C's of leadership that can help you lead with more clarity and purpose. If you're ready to challenge what you think you know about managing people (and want practical tools to lead more effectively), this episode is for you! Sound Bites "Most of the hiring tools we use today are only marginally better than chance.""We act like we're selecting with science, but we're often just rationalizing our preferences.""Maslow never created a pyramid. That was a marketing add-on, not a scientific insight.""Psychology gave us language, but somewhere along the way, it became the product.""What do I want to pay people to do?" becomes "What results do I want to buy from them?""We pay people to do activities, but it's because we want to buy results.""Nobody buys verbs. People buy nouns.""Maslow had no interest in actually validating his model. He just threw it out there.""If you get married and someone asks, what are you looking for in a spouse? Would you really say the upper left box?""The guy who created the DISC assessment was also the creator of Wonder Woman.""Given the choice between thinking hard and spending money, most business leaders would rather spend money.""Part of the problem with these tools is you're learning about science through something called marketing.""We've got strategic plans, core values, mission statements. What's missing is being on the same page." Chapters 00:00 Introduction01:45 Start of Interview02:00 Barry's Early Career Influences and Business Perspective06:42 Why Leaders Rely So Heavily on Assessments09:25 The "Yes, Buts" of Psychological Tools15:20 What We Get Wrong About Maslow's Hierarchy19:00 From Paying for Activities to Buying Results23:30 Connecting Project Work to Real Value24:00 Introducing The Same Page28:47 The Most Overlooked Element of Leadership33:47z Looking Ahead at AI, Automation, and the Future of Work41:22 End of Interview42:03 Andy Comments After the Interview45:19 Outtakes Learn More You can learn more about Barry and his work at ArgosHR.com. For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 473 with Jeffrey Hull & Margaret Moore. They have rigorously researched what it takes to lead, and I think you'll find their approach and findings to be a nice complement to today's episode.Episode 417 with Mary Crossan and Bill Furlong. They have deeply researched 11 dimensions of character, which has some nice alignment with the 4 C's that Barry talked about.Episode 47 with Henry Mintzberg. If you haven't been with us since the early days, it would be easy to have missed this episode with one of the foremost curmudgeons of management. I think you'll find his insights in episode 47 to be a helpful addition to what Barry talked about in this episode. Help Passing 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! 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: Leadership, People Management, Business Psychology, Strategic HR, Hiring, Performance Management, Personality Assessments, Organizational Culture, Project Value, Team Development, Employee Experience,...
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    48 分
  • PPP 489 | Blindspots That Derail Project Managers and How To See Them, with author Marty Dubin

    PPP 489 | Blindspots That Derail Project Managers and How To See Them, with author Marty Dubin
    2026/01/07
    Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Martin Dubin, psychologist, former CEO, executive coach, and author of Blindspotting: How to See What's Holding You Back as a Leader. Marty brings a rare combination of clinical insight and real-world leadership experience to a topic that affects every project manager and frontline leader: the blindspots that quietly shape our behavior, decisions, and impact. Together, the discussion explores how motives often drive our actions without us realizing it, why strengths can become liabilities when overused, and how emotion acts as one of the most powerful and least discussed forces in leadership. Marty explains his layered model of blindspots, including identity, motive, traits, emotion, and behavior, and shows how leaders can build awareness without trying to "fix" who they are. You will also hear practical guidance on creating a simple change plan that actually sticks, using small behavioral tweaks, prompts, and accountability rather than dramatic personal transformation. The conversation closes with thoughtful examples of how blindspotting can improve not only leadership at work, but relationships at home as well. If you want practical insight into leading with greater self-awareness, emotional range, and intentional growth, this episode is for you! Sound Bites "The hardest part of leadership is not managing others. It's managing ourselves.""Your strengths work for you most of the time, which is why it's so hard to see when they start working against you.""You know, whatever it is, it's usually invisible to us until someone or something forces it into view.""Now, if you put the modifier TOO in front of it, what happens when you're TOO confident? What happens when you're TOO organized? What happens when you're TOO creative?""What do they tell you? You are too....""Motives constrict under stress, and that's often when blindspots do the most damage.""Traits don't need to be changed. They need to be regulated.""Emotion is one of the most powerful tools leaders have, whether they use it intentionally or not.""Real change comes from small behavioral tweaks, not personality transformation." Chapters 00:00 Introduction01:42 Start of Interview02:00 Marty's Background and Family Influence05:38 What Drives Marty Crazy About Leadership Books08:20 Identity Blindspots and Leadership Roles11:00 Why Motive Is So Hard to See13:00 Using Emotion to Reveal Motives14:00 When Strengths Become Weaknesses17:50 Practical Ways to Spot Trait Blindspots19:00 Emotional Awareness and Leadership Influence21:10 Regulating Emotion Versus Repressing It22:50 Building a Change Plan That Works26:20 A Client Story That Shows Blindspotting in Action28:20 Applying Blindspotting to Parenting (and Grandparenting)30:14 End of Interview30:45 Andy Comments After the Interview35:42 Outtakes Learn More You can learn more about Marty and his work at MartinDubin.com. For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 473 with Jeffrey Hull and Margaret Moore, who share rigorously researched insights on what it takes to lead.Episode 450 with Mark Miller, an engaging and empowering discussion about why leaders fail and how they grow.Episode 32 with Brad Kolar and Madeleine Van Hecke, exploring how the way our brains are wired influences how we lead. 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: Power Skills Topics: Leadership, Self-Awareness, Emotional Intelligence, Motivation, Personality Traits, Behavior Change, Executive Coaching, Identity, Influence, Team Leadership, Blind Spots 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: Fashion Corporate by Frank Schroeter License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
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    39 分
  • PPP 488 | How to Be a Less Terrible Boss, with Joel Hilchey

    PPP 488 | How to Be a Less Terrible Boss, with Joel Hilchey
    2026/01/02
    Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Joel Hilchey, speaker, facilitator, and author of The 6½ Habits of Highly Defective Bosses. Joel brings humor, honesty, and a refreshing amount of grace to a topic many leaders quietly struggle with: becoming a boss without training, preparation, or a clear roadmap. Andy and Joel explore what it really means to be an "accidental boss" and why most bad bosses are not bad people. They unpack the four quadrants every leader must balance: tasks vs. people and short-term vs. long-term, and why focusing only on tasks can quietly erode trust and engagement. You'll hear practical ideas for avoiding mediocrity mongering, removing everyday hassles that drain teams, and providing clarity instead of whiplash leadership. The conversation also touches on why aiming to be "less terrible" is a surprisingly powerful leadership goal, how recognition can become a force multiplier, and why lessons from leadership often show up at home as well. If you're leading projects or people and want practical, human-centered ways to become a better boss one step at a time, this episode is for you! Sound Bites "Most bad bosses are actually good people with bad ideas.""If you focus only on tasks, people will hate working for you.""People don't expect perfection from their boss, but they do expect effort.""Recognition is one of the highest leverage tools a leader has.""The essence of strategy is saying no.""Be a lighthouse for your team, not a disco ball.""If you notice yourself getting frustrated that people are doing stuff that's off task or that feels off task to you, like why is this person taking time to do that? That's on you as the leader to say, oh, I must not have made this strategy clear.""You can spend the money without asking, but you must tell me you spent it next time we meet." Chapters 00:00 Introduction02:08 Start of Interview02:20 Becoming an Accidental Boss07:10 The Four Leadership Quadrants12:10 Warning Signs You Are Neglecting People15:15 When Task Focus Goes Too Far21:24 Mediocrity Mongering and Good Enough Work25:47 The Value of a Crappy First Draft30:00 Removing Hassles from Team Work35:30 Lighthouse vs. Disco Ball Leadership39:40 Why Being 'Less Terrible' Matters45:40 Applying Leadership Lessons at Home48:31 End of Interview49:15 Andy Comments After the Interview52:38 Outtakes Learn More You can learn more about Joel and his work at JoelHilchey.com. Make sure to try the complimentary assessment Joel refers to in the interview. For more learning on this topic, check out: Episode 468 with James Turk. It's a practical discussion about what to do when you are suddenly in charge.Episode 467 with Sabina Nawaz, former executive coach to Bill Gates, sharing insights on what no one usually tells you about becoming the boss.Episode 419 with Molly McGrath. Her book focuses on fixing your boss, but it almost always inspires listeners to become better leaders themselves. Level Up Your AI Skills During the episode, Andy mentioned our AI Made Simple class. Join listeners from around the world who are learning how 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: Power Skills Topics: Leadership, People Management, Accidental Managers, Team Culture, Recognition, Project Leadership, Manager Development, Communication, Prioritization, 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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    56 分
  • PPP 487 | Why Humor Is a Serious Leadership Skill, with comedian Adam Christing

    PPP 487 | Why Humor Is a Serious Leadership Skill, with comedian Adam Christing
    2025/12/26
    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 分
  • PPP 486 | How to Solve Some of the Toughest Leadership Problems, with business coach Dr. Katie Best

    PPP 486 | How to Solve Some of the Toughest Leadership Problems, with business coach Dr. Katie Best
    2025/12/05
    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 分
  • PPP 485 | What Project Teams Can Learn From Sketch Comedy, with author John Krewson

    PPP 485 | What Project Teams Can Learn From Sketch Comedy, with author John Krewson
    2025/11/26
    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 分
  • PPP 484 | Coping with Digital Overwhelm Without Logging Off, with author Craig Mattson

    PPP 484 | Coping with Digital Overwhelm Without Logging Off, with author Craig Mattson
    2025/11/21
    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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