We explore the power of Hoshin Kanri—a strategic management system that sets mid- and long-term goals, aligns objectives across all levels of an organization, guides annual execution, and develops people’s capabilities to sustain progress. Mark Reich brings insight from his 23 years at Toyota, where he helped implement this enterprise-wide approach to continuous improvement.

As AI tools become more advanced, what does effective project leadership look like? In this episode, Rich Maltzman, co-author of AI-Powered Leadership, discusses what effective project leadership looks like in an AI-driven world. He emphasizes the need for a collaborative approach between human judgment and machine intelligence, advocating for a “both/and” mindset that blends human insight with technological precision.

In this episode hear fresh insights to help you lead with impact, empower your team — and get the job done. Kevin Torf, author of Getting the Job Done, shares practical advice for leaders managing fast-moving projects and cross-functional teams as we explore what it truly means to empower a team, and why it's the secret sauce behind high-performing project leadership and long-term success.

We explore the intersection of adventure, innovation, and sustainability with Jacques Barreau, co-founder of Grain de Sail. This pioneering project is transforming maritime shipping with wind-powered cargo vessels, carrying organic chocolate and coffee across the Atlantic. Jacques shares how he and his twin brother, Olivier, turned their passion for eco-friendly transport into managing this complex project, which spans food production, shipping logistics, and international partnerships.

Alison Coward shares insights on Workshop Culture, as she introduces her five-pillar framework for building strong team culture. Hear how teams can infuse their everyday collaboration with the energy and effectiveness of workshops. By adopting a "workshop mindset," teams can transform meetings, improve communication, and achieve stronger alignment around shared values, ultimately avoiding common pitfalls that lead to unproductive habits.

Explore what sets thriving teams apart from dysfunctional ones; and how project leaders can build a culture of energy, engagement, and sustainable success. Hear about a capacity-building framework: spiritual, intellectual, physical, and emotional, and how strengthening these four dimensions drives performance and boosts team productivity.

Steven T. Collis, author of Habits of a Peacemaker: 10 Habits to Change Our Potentially Toxic Conversations into Healthy Dialogues, shares strategies to turn potentially toxic conversations into healthy dialogues. His approach includes embracing intellectual humility, asking sincere questions, assuming the best in others, and resisting the need for personal validation. Productive dialogue prioritizes mutual respect and understanding over persuasion, even in the face of significant disagreements.

Ben Lamorte talks with us about the power of OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) as a transformative tool for project leaders. He introduces a simple framework: define the destination, articulate its importance, set measurable key results, and outline an action plan. Hear about the impact of strong OKRs, and how tracking progress fosters motivation through small wins and helps teams maintain focus.

Dave Garrett, Senior Advisor to the CEO, discusses the PMI Project Success Initiative, a 2023 research project by the Project Management Institute. The initiative redefines project success and offers actionable insights for project professionals. Dave describes shifting the focus and accountability beyond project management success to overall project success as he talks about the three key measurement factors crucial for project success and the Net Project Success Score, a tool used to evaluate a project’s success.

If you’re dealing with an overdue project or looking to prevent delays before they happen, listen to Mark Woeppel as he shares real-world examples, hard-earned lessons, and practical frameworks to help organizations get struggling initiatives back on track—and what leaders can do to prevent delays from happening in the first place. Hear how poor schedule and risk reserve management can lead to delays and learn early warning signs to identify minor versus systemic issues.