show episodes
 
Welcome to the People and Projects Podcast, where we provide interviews and insights to help you lead people and deliver projects. Since 2009, this show is brought to you by speaker, author, and executive coach Andy Kaufman. If you're looking for insights on project management, leadership, and how AI influences both of those, you've come to the right place! And if you hold a project management certification, you can even earn free PDUs for listening!
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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 f…
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In this podcast, Ricardo addresses a skeptical comment about AI's impact on project management, specifically questioning whether AI will diminish the role of project managers and PMI's responsibility in shutting down AI. Ricardo emphasizes that neither he nor his colleague Antonio are pushing an AI agenda for profit. Instead, they believe in AI's t…
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In this episode, Ricardo talks about the importance of understanding emotions in project management, emphasizing that human challenges often outweigh technical ones. He introduces the "Wheel of Emotions" by Robert Plutchik, which categorizes eight primary emotions into pairs of opposites, helping project managers recognize and manage emotions in th…
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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 …
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What happens when a project loses the project manager or an absolutely critical member? In this episode, Ricardo discusses the challenges of changing project manager mid-project. He explains that it is costly and risky due to potential accountability issues, where the new manager may blame the predecessor. To mitigate these issues, he advises keepi…
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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 …
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In this episode, Ricardo discusses the virtuous cycle in AI development, based on Andrew Ng's Coursera course, "AI for Everyone," and highlights the importance of creating AI projects that intersect with business value. Ricardo explains that more data improves algorithms and services, attracting more users, which generates more data and creates a v…
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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 proje…
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In this episode, Ricardo discusses a recent global computer meltdown that affected 1% of Microsoft Windows computers, causing chaos across multiple industries. He comments on the risks of relying on unique technologies, using an example from his own business. Ricardo distributes his technological needs among several suppliers (Apple, Google, AWS, D…
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Summary In this conversation, Andy interviews James Louttit about his book Leading Impactful Teams: Achieving Low-Stress Success in Project Management. They discuss the challenges of leading projects and teams and what it means to be an impactful project manager. James introduces the SAVE meeting facilitation technique and discusses prioritizing va…
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In this episode, Ricardo discusses the OpenAI ranking to classify AI systems, highlighting the importance of clearly communicating these advances to the general public. The ranking has five levels: 1- Chatbots that support but do not replace jobs, 2 - Systems that solve problems at the human level, 3 - AI capable of taking action, Innovative AI, 4 …
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Summary In this episode, Andy interviews Karla Eidem, the Managing Director of North America region at Project Management Institute (PMI). The discussion focuses on the latest trends and developments in project management. They explore the evolution of project managers from executing technical aspects to becoming strategic partners in organizations…
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Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Charlie Gilkey, author of Team Habits: How Small Actions Lead to Extraordinary Results. They discuss how small, often overlooked habits shape team culture and performance. The conversation explores practical approaches for enhancing team dynamics, instilling a sense of belonging, improving decision-making, a…
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In this episode, Ricardo talks about the importance of understanding the political aspects of project management. Effective project delivery isn't just about planning, budgeting, risk analysis, or stakeholder management; it requires the management of human interactions and political dynamics. Ricardo gives four main tips: influence mapping to under…
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Summary In this episode, Andy interviews Nigel Creaser, an active project professional and author of the book Project Manager Productivity Hacks. Nigel shares insights from his career and discusses strategies for managing interruptions and improving productivity. They also touch on the use of mobile devices and AI tools in project management. Overa…
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Summary In this episode, Andy dives deep into the world of sleep with Dr. Bijoy John, author of Nobody's Sleeping: Seven Proven Sleep Strategies for Better Health. Dr. John shares his personal journey with sleep issues, discusses the widespread impact of poor sleep on health and performance, and offers practical advice for improving sleep quality. …
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In this episode, Ricardo talks about the fatigue of change, and the constant need for adaptability. Frequent changes can lead to frustration, apathy and reduced team productivity. To manage this, Ricardo suggests three tips: open and transparent communication to explain changes and listen to feedback; empathy to support and recognize team challenge…
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Summary In this episode, Andy interviews Kory Kogon, FranklinCovey’s Vice President of Content Development, about her updated book, Project Management for the Unofficial Project Manager. They discuss the prevalence of unofficial project managers in various industries, especially post-pandemic, and the unique challenges they face. Kory shares insigh…
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Summary In this episode, Andy interviews Molly McGrath, author of the book Fix My Boss: A Simple Plan to Cultivate Respect, Risk Courageous Conversations, and Increase The Bottom Line. They discuss practical ways to improve the relationship between bosses and employees, including having courageous conversations, setting clear expectations, and impl…
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In this episode, Ricardo talks about the difficulty of recognizing a project in crisis and offers three reasons why this is challenging. First, cultural stigma prevents leaders from admitting failure, as it can imply incompetence. Secondly, the belief that problems can be solved unnoticed is misleading since recovering from a crisis requires much m…
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Summary In this episode, Andy Kaufman interviews his friend Randy Fox about his book The Call to Excellence: Influential Leadership for Impactful Results. Randy shares the backstory of his signature story, the Silver Platter Service, and how it can apply to leadership. They discuss the pursuit of excellence and the difference between being perfect …
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In this episode, Ricardo explores the SCARF model, a powerful framework developed by neuroscientist David Rock to understand and manage social behaviors in projects. He examines the five key domains of SCARF: Status, Certainty, Autonomy, Relatedness, and Fairness—and discusses how each of these elements can significantly impact team dynamics and pr…
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Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Dr. Mary Crossan and Bill Furlong to discuss their book, The Character Compass. They explore the concept of character and its importance in leadership. Mary and Bill debunk myths and misconceptions about character and highlight the interconnected nature of its dimensions. The framework they introduce consist…
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In this episode, Ricardo discusses the misconception that using AI tools like ChatGPT is cheating. He distinguishes between ethical and unethical uses of AI. Using AI to improve communication or generate ideas is fair if the user remains the intellectual author. However, passing off AI-generated work as your own, such as writing articles for public…
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Summary In this episode, Andy is joined by Veijo Hytti and Timothy Bull from Keto Software. They explore the impact of AI on project management and the integration of AI into enterprise software. The discussion addresses the hype and misconceptions surrounding AI, as well as the practical applications and benefits of AI in project management. The d…
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In this episode of the 5 Minutes Podcast, Ricardo discusses the crucial balance between exploration and exploitation in the context of AI and business. Exploration involves researching and innovating, similar to analyzing multiple doors to understand the best option. However, at some point, organizations must shift to exploitation, applying their f…
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Summary In this episode, Andy interviews Jim Kouzes about the Seventh Edition of the classic book The Leadership Challenge (7th Edition): How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organizations. They discuss the fundamentals of leadership, the impact of the global pandemic on leadership, leading across generations, and more. Jim shares practical i…
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In this podcast, Ricardo shares his experience attending the Taylor Swift concert with his daughter, highlighting what he learned. Initially skeptical, he was impressed by the event's importance to the young audience, teaching him the importance of understanding stakeholders. He was impressed with the flawless execution of the show, which featured …
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Summary In this episode, Andy is joined by Terri Sjodin, author of Presentation Ready. They discuss strategies to improve presentation outcomes and avoid common mistakes. Terri shares her research, based on a multi-year study, identifying the 12 most common presentation errors. She emphasizes the importance of preparation, understanding the audienc…
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In this episode, Ricardo discusses his recent article on artificial emotional intelligence (AEI), published with André Barcauí at the London School of Economics Business Review. AEI can significantly improve employment, healthcare, education, and negotiation by identifying small emotional clues. For instance, Character.ai allows users to interact w…
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In this podcast, Ricardo discusses the severe flooding crisis in Southern Brazil, emphasizing three key points. First, focus on immediate rescue and safety, not on blame. Authorities should prioritize evacuating people, providing basic needs, and ensuring shelters. Second, protect the vulnerable, such as women and children, from potential abuse in …
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Summary In this episode, Andy interviews Rich Maltzman and Jim Stewart about their book Great Meetings Build Great Teams: A Guide for Project Leaders and Agilists. They discuss the common reasons why people dislike meetings, such as lack of purpose and poor facilitation. They introduce the concept of 'meeting goblins,' which are negative personalit…
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In this episode, Ricardo discusses how the film "The Social Network" prompted him to think creatively. By encouraging people to focus on novel concepts rather than mundane routines, he reinforces the importance of escaping the conformity cycle. Ricardo argues that in order to improve one's creative and problem-solving abilities, one should seek out…
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Summary In this episode, Andy talks with Scott Walker who spent 16 years as a Scotland Yard detective. Scott and Andy delve into lessons on emotional intelligence and negotiation skills gleaned from Scott's new book Order out of Chaos: Win Every Negotiation, Thrive in Adversity, and Become a World-Class Communicator. Key takeaways include seeking t…
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In this episode, Ricardo talks about the challenges and crises in project management. He emphasizes that projects naturally encounter difficulties, such as delays, stakeholder issues, and risks, which are manageable. A crisis occurs when these challenges exceed the ability to deal with them, necessitating significant changes in behavior and approac…
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In this episode, Ricardo talks about findings from the "Stanford University AI Index Report," which emphasizes the advantages that industry has over academia in AI research, the efficacy of AI in specific activities, and the high expense of creating sophisticated models. Although regulation is still in its infancy, the US leads the way. While AI bo…
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Summary In this episode, Andy interviews Laura Mae Martin, Google's productivity expert and author of the book Uptime: A Practical Guide to Personal Productivity and Wellbeing. They discuss the concept of productivity and how it is often misunderstood. Laura shares her perspective on productivity, emphasizing the importance of intention and executi…
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In this episode, Ricardo talks about the importance of soft skills in project management, noting their relevance since the inception of the PMBOK guide in 1996. The 7th edition introduces a principles-based approach, diverging from the process-based structure of the 6th edition. This change facilitates a holistic understanding, which is particularl…
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Summary In this episode, Andy Kaufman interviews Ryan Hawk, host of the Learning Leader podcast and author of the book The Score That Matters: Growing Excellence in Yourself and Those You Lead. They discuss the importance of valuing excellence and pursuing personal growth, as well as the dangers of comparing oneself to others and keeping score base…
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In this episode, Ricardo talks about "management by exception" in PRINCE2 methodology, which encourages communication and action only in exceptional cases, saving time on routine updates. As an example, meetings are only called when there is a significant delay, a cost overrun, or a risk that is about to happen. Teams can focus on project work when…
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In this episode, Ricardo discusses how even small projects like assembling IKEA furniture can become overwhelming if not planned and executed efficiently. He highlights the need for attention, commitment, and streamlined communication to prevent such tasks from accumulating and disrupting larger goals. Planning, dedicating time, avoiding multitaski…
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Summary In this episode, Andy talks with K. Scott Griffith about his new book, The Leader's Guide to Managing Risk. The book explores the importance of building resilience and reliability in projects, teams, and life. The conversation delves into the social and technical aspects of producing results, the need for human-resilient systems, and the im…
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In this episode, Ricardo talks about the hype cycle, which was first used in relation to technology but is also applicable to project management. He describes how projects go through phases of exhilaration that peak upon release, problems, and disillusionment. This cycle is like how technology hype, like that surrounding the 2022 introduction of Ch…
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Summary In this episode, Andy welcomes Paul Falcone to discuss his book The First-Time Manager: Leading Through Crisis. The conversation dives into common challenges faced by managers such as performance conversations, dealing with dysfunctional teams or bosses, and navigating situations like having to fire an employee or dealing with a younger (or…
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In this podcast, Ricardo discusses the importance of implementing AI projects with metrics, cautioning against the fear of missing out (FOMO) as a driving force. He draws attention to the high expenses of AI, especially those related to hiring qualified personnel and purchasing processing power. To analyze possible time and cost savings, Ricardo su…
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In this episode, Ricardo talks about remote project management, drawing from years of experience. He stresses using online tools like Asana and Slack to stay organized and talk to people. Clear communication rules are fundamental and should include casual office hours for spontaneous discussions. Setting clear goals, roles, and standards helps team…
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Summary In this episode, Andy interviews Ben Guttmann about his book, Simply Put: Why Clear Messages Win and How to Design Them. They discuss how to design and deliver messages that not only capture attention but also evoke meaningful responses. They delve into concepts like simplicity, fluency, and minimal messaging. Ben demonstrates how linguisti…
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In this episode, Ricardo talks about the dilemma of balancing executive demands for transparency, resources, and deadlines with the need for agility. He makes it clear that agility doesn't mean having any control but rather a mix of control and flexibility. Flexibility, imagination, and new ideas are valued more than strict rules when using agile m…
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In this episode, Ricardo talks about AI's role in risk management, particularly in risk identification, which is based on human experience and often involves techniques such as brainstorming. AI can analyze large amounts of data to identify links that people might overlook, such as the placement of diapers next to beer on supermarket shelves. Using…
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