PPP 430 | How to Talk With a Stakeholder (or That Relative) You Don't Agree With--Without Starting a Fight, with Steven T. Collis

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Published: Thursday, 15 August 2024 17:50

Written by Andy Kaufman

Total Duration 43:15

Download episode 430

Summary

In this episode, Andy talks with Steven T. Collis, a law professor and author of Habits of a Peacemaker: 10 Habits to Change Our Potentially Toxic Conversations into Healthy Dialogues.' They discuss the increasing polarization in society, and challenges in having healthy dialogues at work and in personal life. Steven introduces ten habits from his book aimed at transforming potentially toxic conversations into healthy dialogues.

The conversation covers topics such as the importance of intellectual humility, seeking real learning, assuming the best about others, and practical strategies for engaging in productive discourse. Steven also shares personal stories and scenarios to illustrate how these habits can be applied, including dealing with difficult family members and controlling emotions.

With all of today's political polarization and conflicts at work, this book is a must-read for aspiring leaders to help them at work and beyond.

Sound Bites

• "My brother could pick a fight with a wall when he was growing up."
• "It's not enough to simply stop; you have to replace it with something else."
• "Being a peacemaker means having productive dialogues about hard topics."
• "We use a lot of slogans in our society and a lot of catchphrases, and chief among them is diversity, equity, and inclusion."
• "Could there be something else that's motivating this person besides my assumption that they're acting out of bad motives?"
• "If you're just an argumentative jerk, you're probably never going to persuade anybody."
• "It's easy to be judgmental of other people, but we know so little about each other and about what's happening in our lives."
• "We have to actually put in extra effort to free ourselves from these echo chambers."

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction
• 02:04 Start Of Interview
• 02:22 Steven's Background And Family Influence
• 05:34 Defining A Peacemaker
• 06:54 Navigating Potentially Toxic Work Conversation About Dei
• 10:14 Fights Into Treasure Hunts
• 12:48 How Technology, Social Media, And Dopamine Impact Dialogue
• 16:19 Seeking Real Learning And Avoiding Echo Chambers
• 20:44 Assuming The Best In Difficult Conversations
• 25:21 Handling Political Differences At Family Gatherings
• 28:25 Understanding Gaslighting
• 31:18 Applying Habits At Home
• 34:05 Wrap Up
• 34:27 Andy Comments After The Interview
• 38:32 Outtakes

Learn More

You can learn more about Steven and his books at StevenTCollis.com.

Prepare to Pass Your Project Management Certification Exam

We regularly help people just like you prepare and pass their PMP and CAPM certification exams. If you or someone you know is thinking about pursuing project management certification, contact us! We'd love to help you earn your credential. Learn more and enroll at i-leadonline.com/PMSeries.

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

Talent Triangle: Power Skills

The following music was used for this episode:

Music: Ignotus by Agnese Valmaggia
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

PPP 429 | Signs That Your PMO is Going to Fail: Insights from World PMO Influencer Bill Dow

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Published: Thursday, 08 August 2024 13:02

Written by Andy Kaufman

Total Duration 41:35

Download episode 429

Summary

In this episode, Andy talks with Bill Dow, the Director of Enterprise PMO at University of Washington Medicine and author of multiple project management books. Bill shares his extensive journey in project management, from starting as a data entry clerk in 1989 to leading PMOs in various organizations. The discussion covers the evolution of project management offices (PMOs), key lessons in leadership, and the significant impact of AI on project management.

Bill emphasizes the importance of executive support for PMOs' success and explores future trends like increased automation and the integration of AI into project management processes. Both Andy and Bill reflect on the critical skills needed for effective project management, beyond just technical knowledge, highlighting the art of managing people and building relationships.

Sound Bites

• "Project management's often misunderstood what they actually do. We hear overhead, we hear administrative, book a meeting for us, just bug people to get things done, go get us coffee."
• "I thought I'd be a project manager so I could just boss people around. Like they'll do all the work. Little did I know how complicated this job is."
• "If you don't have executive support backing you, you're not going to survive. It just does not matter."
• "One of the key aspects of what I'm about is tenacity. I just keep trying and trying. If it doesn't work, I'll try again and try again."

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction
• 02:03 Start Of Interview
• 02:27 Bill's Career Journey In Project Management
• 04:18 Misconceptions About Project Management
• 07:57 Lessons In Leading People And Projects
• 12:52 The Evolution Of PMOs
• 18:42 Signs Of A PMO At Risk
• 28:26 Achieving Success As A PMO Influencer
• 34:32 Wrap-Up
• 34:50 Andy's Comments After The Interview
• 38:56 Outtakes

Learn More

You can learn more about Bill at BillDowPMPTraining.com.

Prepare to Pass Your Project Management Certification Exam

We regularly help people just like you prepare and pass their PMP and CAPM certification exams. If you or someone you know is thinking about pursuing project management certification, contact us! We'd love to help you earn your credential. Learn more and enroll at i-leadonline.com/PMSeries.

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

Talent Triangle: Power Skills

The following music was used for this episode:

Music: Tranceverse 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

PPP 428 | How a Navy SEAL Commander Can Help You Unlock Optimal Team Performance, with Rich Diviney

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Published: Friday, 02 August 2024 14:34

Written by Andy Kaufman

Total Duration 43:59

Download episode 428

Summary

In this episode, Andy talks with Rich Diviney, a retired Navy SEAL commander, about his book, The Attributes: 25 Drivers of Optimal Performance. Rich shares his insights on the difference between attributes and skills, the concept of optimal performance, and how understanding these attributes can help build high-performing teams. They also talk about the importance of dynamic subordination, the relevance of attributes in hiring processes, and how parents can help their children develop these essential traits.

The conversation highlights the need to look beyond resumes and skills when evaluating team members and the value of understanding and developing attributes for individual and team success. If you're looking for an innovative way to better understand and develop yourself and your team, this is a must-listen episode.

Sound Bites

• "In stress, challenge, and uncertainty, when things hit the fan, personality tends to go out the window. We're running on these very raw things called attributes."
• "We train for certainty; we educate for uncertainty."
• "Skills direct our behavior in known and specific environments, but attributes inform our behavior in unknown environments."
• "A high-performing team is one that performs optimally even when things are not going great."
• "Optimal performance means I'm going to do the very best in the moment, whatever the best looks like in that moment."
• "Dynamic subordination means that problems and challenges can come from any angle at any moment. The person who's closest to the problem, the most capable, immediately steps up and takes lead."
• "If someone is unwilling to take criticism, they are unwilling to understand what they're doing wrong. They're unwilling to step back and cede control. That is a dangerous place to be in."

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction
• 02:04 Start Of Interview
• 04:02 Differentiating Skills From Attributes
• 07:20 Developing Attributes In High-Stress Environments
• 07:07 Story Of The Non-Swimmer At SEAL Training
• 08:45 Attributes Vs Character
• 09:33 The Role Of Context And Environment
• 12:19 Senior Leaders Who Get Defensive
• 16:15 The Role Of Narcissism And Optimal Performance
• 19:39 Peak Performance Vs Optimal Performance
• 31:26 Training For Certainty Vs. Educating For Uncertainty
• 33:25 Attributes In Marriage And Parenting
• 38:43 Wrap-Up Of Interview
• 39:07 Andy Comments After The Interview
• 42:02 Outtakes

Learn More

You can learn more about Rich and the attributes at TheAttributes.com.

Prepare to Pass Your Project Management Certification Exam

We regularly help people just like you prepare and pass their PMP and CAPM certification exams. If you or someone you know is thinking about pursuing project management certification, contact us! We'd love to help you earn your credential. Learn more and enroll at i-leadonline.com/PMSeries.

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

Talent Triangle: Power Skills

The following music was used for this episode:

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

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

PPP 427 | Why Attachment Theory is a Game-Changer for Leading Teams and Projects, with Dr. Judy Ho

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Published: Friday, 26 July 2024 16:47

Written by Andy Kaufman

Total Duration 36:42

Download episode 427

Summary

In this episode, Andy speaks with Dr. Judy Ho, a clinical and forensic neuropsychologist, about her new book, The New Rules of Attachment: How to Heal Your Relationships, Reparent Your Inner Child, and Secure Your Life Vision .

Seriously? Attachment theory? Reparenting your inner child? What does this have to do with leading teams and projects? You'll find out in this episode!

Andy and Judy delve into the importance of attachment in leadership and how understanding attachment styles can impact leadership and team dynamics. Dr. Ho discusses the different attachment styles: avoidant, anxious, and disorganized, and their influence on self-concept and behavior in professional settings. The conversation highlights key strategies for leaders to recognize and adjust to the attachment styles of their team members.

Before you're done, you'll have a new appreciation for attachment theory and its practical applications for personal and team development.

Sound Bites

• "It's really about learning these practical strategies to clear up your mind so that you feel the most effective when you come up to a stressful situation."
• "This idea of psychological safety, it basically has the same effect on our bodies and our minds as physical safety."
• "It's really all about clearing cognitive space, especially when you're stressed."
• "The ability to be able to even name how they're feeling. Often when people have insecure attachment, they have this phenomenon that we psychologists call alexithymia."
• "We are social beings, and we need to stay connected to others to be able to achieve everything that we need to achieve."
• "It's amazing how these things still continue to impact us years after, even when those situations and circumstances have changed."

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction
• 02:29 Start Of Interview
• 02:50 What is Attachment?
• 04:42 What is Judy's Attachment Style?
• 09:33 How Attachment Theory and Emotional Intelligence Relate
• 12:30 Common Leadership Blindspots
• 18:19 Influence on Self-Concept
• 21:02 Clues to Attachment Styles
• 25:14 Dealing With An Anxious Style On Your Team
• 26:41 Life at a Glance Exercise
• 29:21 Practical Next Steps for Leaders
• 31:25 Wrap Up
• 31:50 Andy Comments After The Interview
• 35:26 Outtakes

Learn More

You can learn more about Dr. Judy Ho at DrJudyHo.com.

Prepare to Pass Your Project Management Certification Exam

We regularly help people just like you prepare and pass their PMP and CAPM certification exams. If you or someone you know is thinking about pursuing project management certification, contact us! We'd love to help you earn your credential. Learn more and enroll at i-leadonline.com/PMSeries.

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

Talent Triangle: Power Skills

The following music was used for this episode:

Music: Summer Morning 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

PPP 426 | Sal Khan on AI’s Role in Education and Project Management

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Published: Tuesday, 23 July 2024 11:33

Written by Andy Kaufman

Total Duration 28:20

Download episode 426

Summary

In this episode, Andy talks with Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy, about his new book Brave New Words: How AI Will Revolutionize Education (and Why That's a Good Thing). They discuss Sal's journey from tutoring his cousin to creating a global educational platform and the evolving role of AI in education. Sal emphasizes the importance of transparency and adaptability in using AI tools and shares his thoughts on productive strategies for teaching and learning in an AI-integrated world. The conversation also explores leadership lessons and efficient time management in both educational and professional settings.

If you're curious about how to think about learning in the age of AI, Sal is one of the best voices to listen to!

Sound Bites

• "ChatGPT did not introduce cheating on essays. This happened well before. There are many ways to cheat that aren't plagiarism."
• "I wasn't confrontational enough."
• "I scrutinize every meeting, do I really need to be here? Do other people need to be here? Why are we meeting every week? Maybe we could do this three times a week or every second or third week."
• "AI is an amplification of human intent. Bad actors are going to use it to amplify their bad intent. And no matter how many rules and laws and regulations we pass, they will ignore them and they will amplify their bad intent."
• "People who work very long hours are the most unproductive people I know."
• "Educated bravery is this idea of when something has potential risks, you shouldn't ignore those risks. That makes you complacent. That's irresponsible, but you should write those risks down and you shouldn't view those risks as reasons to run away or to not go in that direction, but you should manage those risks. You should be aware of them and maybe even turn them into features. Every problem is, you know, people famously say is an opportunity and that's the mindset that we've tried to take on."

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction
• 01:52 Start Of Interview
• 02:01 How Is Education Currently Looking At AI?
• 05:32 The Role Of AI Tutors And Khanmigo
• 08:35 Educated Bravery
• 10:20 What People Aren't Talking About Enough From The Book
• 13:01 Sal's Project Management Lessons
• 14:35 Advantage Of Looking At Things Through A Star Trek Lens
• 16:58 Does More AI Lead To More Leisure?
• 19:43 The Need To Be More Confrontational
• 21:37 Wrap Up
• 22:05 Andy Comments After The Interview
• 27:07 Outtakes

Learn More

You can learn more about Khanmigo at Khanmigo.ai.

Prepare to Pass Your Project Management Certification Exam

We regularly help people just like you prepare and pass their PMP and CAPM certification exams. If you or someone you know is thinking about pursuing project management certification, contact us! We'd love to help you earn your credential. Learn more and enroll at i-leadonline.com/PMSeries.

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

Talent Triangle: Business Acumen

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