In this episode, Andy talks with leadership coach Phil Wilson, author of The Leader-Shift Playbook: 4 Simple Changes to Score Big and Unleash Your Team's Potential. Phil shares his own “Mount Stupid” moment, when he realized the biggest obstacle to his team’s success was actually himself, and how that wake-up call led to powerful changes in his leadership approach.

The conversation dives into the four core shifts from his book, covering topics like the power of belief (in yourself and others), and how seemingly small habits shape team culture. Phil and Andy explore how frontline leaders can create real momentum by changing how they show up, how they relate to their team, and how they view their role as a leader. You’ll also hear practical ways to build trust on remote teams and foster relationships that drive performance.

If you’re looking for insights on culture, trust, feedback, and practical leadership growth, this episode is for you!

• “There are no neutral interactions. You’re either growing the culture or you’re hurting the culture.”
• “The solution wasn’t a Chief of Staff. What I needed was to be a better leader.”
• “Self-doubt isn’t humility. It’s fear dressed up as honesty.”
• "Beliefs drive behavior."
• “The belief you have about your team—whether they’re heroes or villains—changes everything.”
• “You don't have the luxury of assuming anything other than the best about your people.”
• “Leadership actually happens in the conversations you’re willing to have.”
• "Best and Best: Each person shares the best thing going on in their personal life, and the best thing going on in their work life."
• "The Three Happys: Three things from the day before that made you happy."
• “If you had a product you were selling, you’d ask your customers for feedback. As a leader, your team is your customer.”

• 00:00 Introduction
• 02:06 Start of Interview
• 02:16 Phil's Family Influence on Leadership
• 05:15 Mount Stupid Moment: A Leadership Realization
• 09:11 Implementing EOS for Better Leadership
• 11:12 We're Always Making Culture
• 13:47 We Shape a Tone Just By Walking Into a Room: How Does that Work With Virtual Work?
• 16:04 Self-Doubt vs. Humility in Leadership
• 20:30 The Hero Assumption in Leadership
• 24:23 How to Show You Believe In Someone
• 26:54 The Importance of Relationships in Teams
• 29:09 Creating a Positive Team Culture
• 32:07 Applying Leadership Principles at Home
• 35:31 End of Interview
• 36:06 Andy Comments After the Interview
• 40:14 Outtakes

You can learn more about Phil and his work at YourLeaderShift.com.

For more learning on this topic, check out:

• Episode 342 with Krister Ungerbock about his book 22 Talk Shifts, exploring how small changes in our words can change our teams.
• Episode 440 with Kelli Thompson about overcoming self-doubt and leading with confidence.
• Episode 468 with James Turk on giving, motivation, and long-term team engagement.

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!

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

Talent Triangle: Power Skills

Topics: Leadership, Feedback, Self-Doubt, Culture, Remote Teams, Trust, Communication, Organizational Behavior, Performance, Project Management, Relationship Building, Personal Growth

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: Energetic Drive Indie Rock by WinnieTheMoog License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

When you're promoted into management, the shift can feel like you're suddenly in charge, but with very little guidance. In this episode, Andy chats with executive coach and author James Turk about his insightful book The Giving Game: A Manager’s Playbook for the First Year of Leadership. James brings decades of experience helping leaders navigate that tricky transition from individual contributor to team leader.

They explore why being a subject-matter expert doesn’t automatically make you an effective leader, and why the first 45 days in a new role are so critical. James shares practical advice for building a strong team climate, coaching instead of controlling, and why clarity is one of the greatest gifts you can offer as a manager. Plus, they discuss what new managers often miss about feedback and delegation (and how to avoid those traps).

Whether you’re newly promoted or preparing to step into a leadership role, this conversation is filled with actionable insights. If you’re looking for real-world advice on how to lead when you’re suddenly in charge, this episode is for you!

• “The number one reason employees don’t do what they’re supposed to do is that they don’t know what it is.”
• “Leadership isn’t about being the smartest person in the room. It’s about creating the conditions for others to succeed.”
• “Climate is how it feels to work for you, and as a leader, that’s something you have the power to shape every day.”
• “Coaching isn’t fixing the past. It’s investing in someone’s future performance.”
• “Most people, when they’re promoted, don’t have the skills, and they’re afraid to admit it.”
• “If I want people to do the work, they need to know what’s expected of them.”

• 00:00 Introduction
• 01:57 Start of Interview
• 02:06 What early experiences shaped how you think about leadership?
• 05:30 Why call it 'The Giving Game'?
• 08:39 What would you coach me to do differently in my first 45 days as a new manager?
• 11:01 Why focus on climate instead of culture?
• 15:57 How do we shift teams from renter mode to ownership?
• 20:18 Why do so many managers think we're being clear?
• 21:42 How can leaders delegate in a way that builds ownership?
• 22:47 When did you make a delegation mistake because of lack of clarity?
• 25:25 What's an example of feedback that changed your career?
• 27:59 What do you think about the 'feedback sandwich' technique?
• 29:44 How can these ideas help parents at home?
• 32:10 End of Interview
• 32:31 Andy Comments After the Interview
• 36:15 Outtakes

You can learn more about James Turk and his work at TheTurkGroup.com/TheGivingGameBook.

For more learning on this topic, check out:

• Episode 466 with Sabina Nawaz. Sabina was the executive coach for Bill Gates and other Microsoft leaders and wrote a book that would be an excellent follow-up to this one.
• Episode 455 with Janet Polach. It’s a great follow-on to what we talked with James here today.
• Episode 391 with Adam Bryant about his book The Leap to Leader.

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!

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

Talent Triangle: Power Skills

Topics: Leadership, First-Time Managers, Team Climate, Feedback, Coaching, Clarity, Delegation, Emotional Intelligence, Ownership, Communication, People Management, Personal Development, Project Management, Career Development

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

In this episode, Andy talks with Sabina Nawaz, global CEO coach and former Microsoft executive, about her new book You're the Boss: Become the Manager You Want to Be and Others Need. With authenticity and insight, Sabina shares what no one tells you about stepping into management, from the strange emptiness that can follow a promotion to how pressure can quietly bring out the worst in us.

They discuss why even successful leaders can feel like imposters, how power and pressure distort our perceptions, and what it means to be an “innocent saboteur.” Sabina also offers practical advice, such as developing your “shut up muscle,” asking better questions, and making small habit changes that stick. The conversation covers everything from leadership in the workplace to parenting, making this one of those rare episodes with takeaways for every area of life.

If you're looking for insights on how to grow as a leader without losing yourself in the process, this episode is for you!

• “It’s not power that corrupts. It’s pressure that corrupts.”
• “If nobody’s giving you the full truth, what are the ways you might be going off track?”
• “When you're under pressure, do nothing. That’s counterintuitive but that’s where insight lives.”
• “The more righteous you feel, the more you need to consider alternative stories.”
• “Use 'Say more' when you're curious—and especially when you're judgmental.”
• “The only way to overachieve is to underachieve—start with micro habits.”
• “You’re not the only one with imposter syndrome—CEOs have it too.”

• 00:00 Introduction
• 02:15 Start of Interview
• 02:24 “Can you think of anything from your family culture or experiences growing up that may have influenced how you think about leadership?”
• 05:08 “You describe getting promoted as a strange emptiness—what were the signs it came with unexpected costs?”
• 07:17 “Do you see imposter syndrome even in top-level leaders you coach?”
• 08:21 “How does embracing the complexity of leadership change how we view our own leaders?”
• 10:04 “How do we unknowingly sabotage ourselves as leaders?”
• 12:09 “What are some of the signs that you're veering off track as a boss?”
• 13:10 “What specific things do you personally do to manage pressure situations so you don’t become a monster?”
• 17:13 “You say, ‘stay small longer than you think you need to.' What does that mean and how do you apply it?”
• 21:07 “What is a singular story and how do we rescue ourselves from believing them?”
• 26:20 “What’s the ‘shut up muscle’ and how do you develop it?”
• 29:02 “Can you think of ideas from the book that apply to parenting as well?”
• 31:44 End of Interview
• 32:09 Andy Comments After the Interview
• 37:40 Outtakes

You can learn more about Sabina and her work at SabinaNawaz.com/book.

For more learning on this topic, check out:

• Episode 455 with Janet Polach. It’s a great follow-on to what we talked with Sabina here today.
• Episode 456 with Kevin Eikenberry. Leading at the next level up comes with a lot of ambiguity that can shake our confidence. Kevin hits that topic head on—I think you’ll get value out of it.
• Episode 391 with Adam Bryant about his book The Leap to Leader.

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!

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

Talent Triangle: Power Skills

Topics: Leadership, Management, Power Dynamics, Self-Awareness, Feedback, Emotional Intelligence, Coaching, Communication, Organizational Culture, Habits, Imposter Syndrome, Pressure, Stress

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

In this episode, Andy welcomes back leadership coach Josefine Campbell to discuss her newest book, 12 Tools for Managing a Selfish Leader. If you’ve ever had a boss who seemed unpredictable, emotionally draining, or even manipulative, this conversation offers tools and insights that can help.

Josefine shares the inspiration behind the book, which is based on the story of a coaching client who successfully navigated a toxic leadership environment. You’ll learn how to identify the early signals of stress in yourself and your team, apply tools like the Stress Staircase and the Three Relationship Circles, and recognize behaviors like “praise with a twist.” Most importantly, Josefine emphasizes the critical turning point: recognizing that while you can’t change a selfish leader, you can change how you manage yourself to better navigate the relationship.

If you’re looking for insights on how to manage up, preserve your well-being, and lead yourself through challenging leadership dynamics, this episode is for you!

• “To qualify as a selfish leader, the way I use the term: it's someone who puts their own interests before the interests of the common good of the company, of the team, and of the people.”
• “Your breath is the only vital response you can control. It's your way back to calm in the moment.”
• “Over-responsibility is a shadow trait of high achievers. When you are highly responsible, it has a dark side. It makes it difficult for you to let go.”
• “I cannot change him. I can somehow manage him, but it is about how I manage myself to manage him.”
• “The turning point comes when you stop trying to change them and start managing yourself.”

• 00:00 Introduction
• 02:07 Start of Interview
• 02:20 Why This Book? What Sparked the Idea?
• 06:00 What Is—and Isn’t—a Selfish Leader?
• 08:40 Subtle Early Warning Signs of Stress
• 10:09 The Stress Staircase: What It Is and How to Use It
• 13:00 From a Hijacked Mental State to Being Ready
• 16:49 Techniques: Rewriting History and Praise With a Twist
• 23:35 Over-Responsibility and High Achievers
• 26:20 The Three Relationship Circles
• 29:04 Managing Yourself to Manage Them
• 32:36 Stay or Go? Coaching Through That Crossroads
• 35:01 End of Interview
• 35:36 Andy Comments After the Interview
• 39:03 Outtakes

You can learn more about Josefine and her book at josefinecampbell.com/books.

For more learning on this topic, check out:

• Episode 395, our first conversation with Josefine about leading through complexity.
• Episode 317 with Mary Abbajay about managing up and succeeding with any boss.
• Episode 422 with Bruce Tulgan on how to manage your boss.

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!

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

Talent Triangle: Power Skills

Topics: Leadership, Project Management, Managing Up, Emotional Intelligence, Coaching, Stress Management, Toxic Leadership, Conflict Navigation, Workplace Psychology, Self-Leadership, Empathy, Team Dynamics

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 Sascha Ende License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

In this episode, Andy welcomes back networking expert and keynote speaker Kari Mirabal, author of You Already Have the No. Kari shares practical strategies for building authentic relationships that can help you not only survive but thrive during career transitions.

They explore the challenges of networking when you're early in your career, in between jobs, or worried about losing the one you have. Kari unpacks how to make the most of platforms like LinkedIn, how to overcome fear and rejection, and the value of making the ask—even if you think the answer will be “no.” She also shares a powerful reframe tool (LTR: Lie, Truth, Reframe) to help you move past limiting beliefs.

Whether you're navigating a job change, building your personal brand, or trying to future-proof your career, Kari’s approachable, energizing advice is just what you need. If you’re looking for insights on how to build relationships that open doors, this episode is for you!

• “You already have the no before you ask. So what do you have to lose? Nothing.”
• "Sales is not synonymous with networking, but service is."
• "Sometimes it wasn’t the person who was most qualified that got the job. It was the person who marketed themself the best."
• "Be a stalker, liker, commenter, poster."
• “Don’t wait until you need a network to start building one. Build the well before you’re thirsty.”
• “Asking is not a sign of weakness. It’s a sign of strength.”
• “Confidence is a skill. The more you practice, the stronger it gets.”
• “LinkedIn changed my life, and it can change yours too.”

• 00:00 Introduction
• 02:04 Start of Interview
• 02:14 Were You Always a Natural Networker?
• 04:34 Is LinkedIn Still Worth It? Tips for Beginners
• 08:08 How to Make the Ask, Even if You're New
• 13:02 How Kari’s Son Landed an Internship Through Networking
• 17:21 Advice for Making a Career or Industry Transition
• 25:00 What to Do If You’re Worried About Job Security
• 27:20 Why We Let Fear Hold Us Back and How to Reframe It
• 32:40 The Role of AI in Relationship Building and Job Seeking
• 34:40 What Parents Can Do to Help Their Kids Network Confidently
• 38:16 End of Interview
• 38:39 Andy Comments After the Interview
• 42:51 Outtakes

You can learn more about Kari and her work at KariMirabal.com.

For more learning on this topic, check out:

• Episode 285 for my earlier conversation with Kari.
• Episode 318 with John Stepper. It’s a great follow up to today’s discussion on how to build new connections and a better career.
• Episode 356 with Eric Barker. Eric and I talked about why everything we know about relationships is mostly wrong.

If you or someone you know is considering getting PMP certified, we put together a super helpful guide called The Five Best Resources to Help You Pass the PMP on Your First Try. We've helped thousands of people earn their certification. 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.

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

Talent Triangle: Power Skills

Topics: Networking, Career Development, Job Search, LinkedIn Strategy, Relationship Building, Influence, Confidence, Career Transition, Professional Growth, Emotional Intelligence, Personal Branding, Fear of Rejection, Leadership

The following music was used for this episode:

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

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

In this episode, Andy interviews Dave Garrison, author of The Buy-In Advantage: Why Employees Stop Caring and How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Give Their All. We’ve all faced moments where our team seems checked out or disengaged. But what if the real issue is that they don’t feel invited to care? Dave challenges conventional approaches to engagement and offers practical, actionable strategies for fostering true buy-in.

In this conversation, Dave shares the difference between engagement and buy-in, how traditional methods like bribing or badgering can backfire, and how leaders can use curiosity, clarity, and inclusive decision-making to fuel commitment. You’ll learn how to better structure meetings, make feedback more meaningful, and identify red flags that indicate declining motivation.

If you're leading teams and looking to create cultures where people don’t just show up but they fully buy in, this episode is for you!

• “It's not about satisfaction. It's about whether people are bringing their head, heart, and gut to work.”
• “Leaders go last all the time. Except when it comes to vulnerability. Then leaders go first.”
• “You don’t know how you land unless you ask. And you can’t ask in a way that intimidates.”
• "People support what they create."
• “PB&J? It stands for 'patiently badger and jam it down their throat.' And that doesn’t work.”
• “Three is greater than seven when it comes to priorities. Seven is not a priority list.”
• “Done with, not done to.”

• 00:00 Introduction
• 01:40 Start of Interview
• 02:00 What's the Difference Between Engagement and Buy-In?
• 04:20 Why Are We Facing a Perfect Storm of Low Buy-In?
• 07:00 What Leaders Do That Actually Makes Buy-In Worse
• 08:25 The Meaning of PB&J (Patiently Badger and Jam It)
• 10:26 How Leaders Unintentionally Undermine Buy-In
• 12:00 Warning Signs of Low Buy-In on Your Team
• 14:37 Debunking the Myth That Money Is the Main Motivator
• 15:42 The Difference Between Collective Genius and Consensus
• 18:00 A Structured Approach to Inclusive Problem Solving
• 19:58 The Role of Curiosity in Performance Reviews
• 21:40 The Power of Pre-Reading and Slowing Down for Better Thinking
• 24:20 How to Prioritize What Matters—From Ideation to Internalization
• 27:10 Simplifying and Clarifying Priorities
• 29:40 Ideas for Celebrating in Ways That Actually Matter
• 31:44 Why Specific Recognition Matters More Than General Praise
• 34:40 What Cornhole and Cookouts Have to Do With Buy-In
• 35:20 Applying These Ideas at Home: Buy-In in Parenting
• 36:49 End of Interview
• 37:15 Andy Comments After the Interview
• 42:29 Outtakes

You can learn more about Dave and his work at BuyInBook.com.

For more learning on this topic, check out:

• Episode 428 with Rich Diviney, a former Navy SEAL commander, on unlocking optimal team performance.
• Episode 94 with Heidi Grant and Tory Higgins, sharing deep research on the science of motivation.
• Episode 31 with Adam Grant—his first-ever podcast interview! Hear insights from Adam before the world knew him.

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

Talent Triangle: Power Skills

Topics: Leadership, Team Engagement, Motivation, Organizational Culture, Buy-In, Decision Making, Psychological Safety, Project Management, Recognition, Meetings, Communication, Employee Retention

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

In this episode, Andy talks with Faisal Hoque, author of Transcend: Unlocking Humanity in the Age of AI. Faisal brings a unique blend of deep philosophical insight, entrepreneurial experience, and technological expertise to the conversation. They explore how leaders can navigate the fast-evolving landscape of artificial intelligence while staying grounded in what makes us human.

The discussion explores how to think about AI not just as a tool or collaborator, but as a mirror that reflects our biases and decisions. Faisal introduces the OPEN and CARE frameworks as practical ways to innovate while managing risk, making this conversation highly actionable for project managers and leaders. From detaching from digital noise to preparing the next generation for an AI-shaped world, Faisal offers a thoughtful roadmap for embracing technology without losing our agency.

If you're looking for insights on how to thrive in the age of AI with both optimism and responsibility, this episode is for you!

• “You can be optimistic, but you can also mitigate risk at the same time. One doesn't really work without the other.”
• “Catastrophizing is not doomism, but it's really a risk management practice.”
• "AI is not just a tool or collaborator, it's a mirror."
• “Don't outsource your agency. It's easy to let AI nudge your decisions without even realizing it.”
• “Just like you don't put a 10-year-old in a car to drive... technology can do a lot of good, but it can also be disastrous.”

• 00:00 Introduction
• 01:33 Start of Interview
• 02:00 What From Your Background Shaped Your Thinking?
• 03:54 How Philosophy and Systems Thinking Intersect
• 06:00 Introducing the OPEN and CARE Frameworks
• 06:55 What Is the Human Role in an AI World?
• 09:43 How AI Can Subtly Influence Our Choices
• 11:40 Sci-Fi's Influence on AI Perception
• 15:07 What Is an AI Persona and How Do You Use Them?
• 18:13 Why AI Is Also a Mirror of Us
• 22:33 Introducing the OPEN Framework for Individuals
• 25:33 How Emotional Intelligence Applies to AI Partnership
• 27:02 The Role of Catastrophizing in Risk Management
• 28:58 The Value of Detaching and Devoting
• 32:03 How We Can Prepare Our Kids for an AI World
• 35:31 End of Interview
• 36:00 Andy Comments After the Interview
• 40:33 Outtakes

You can learn more about Faisal and his work at FaisalHoque.com.

For more learning on this topic, check out:

• Episode 460 with Dr. Joe Sutherland about AI, Data, and Decision Making
• Episode 454 with Dr. Christie Smith about how AI is changing leadership
• Episode 437 with Nada Sanders on her book Humachine (Human + Machine)

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

Talent Triangle: Business Acumen

Topics: AI, Leadership, Risk Management, Innovation, Digital Transformation, Emotional Intelligence, Strategic Thinking, Project Management, Decision Making, Organizational Change, Technology Ethics, Future of Work

The following music was used for this episode:

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

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

In this episode, Andy welcomes Dr. Margie Warrell, bestselling author and global leadership expert, to talk about her latest book, The Courage Gap: 5 Steps to Braver Action. Drawing from her deeply personal experiences and decades of coaching and research, Margie shares how courage isn't about eliminating fear—it's about regulating it and acting anyway.

Margie and Andy explore the hidden ways fear shapes our decisions at work and at home, how overachievers can unknowingly be held back by fear, and why rescripting the stories we tell ourselves is essential to growth. You'll learn about the “courage muscle,” the power of embodiment, and practical steps to face difficult conversations and bold decisions. Whether you're leading a team, managing a project, or navigating life transitions, Margie offers encouragement and tools to help you close your own courage gap.

If you're looking for insights on facing fears, speaking up, and leading with greater confidence, this episode is for you!

• “Courage is not the absence of fear—it’s learning how to regulate it and act anyway.”
• “The smarter we think we are, the more cunningly our fear hides in the background.”
• “We reject ourselves before anyone else has the chance—because we don't ask.”
• “What we focus on expands. Fear thrives when we focus on what we don’t want.”
• “Stand guard at the doorway of your language—your stories shape your reality.”
• “We need to parent—and lead—from purpose, not from fear.”
• “Every conversation is improv—and that’s what makes it feel risky.”

• 00:00 Introduction
• 01:55 Start of Interview
• 02:06 How Did Your Upbringing Inspire Your Courage Work?
• 05:12 Did You Write This Book Because It Was Easy for You?
• 07:24 Should We Try to Get Rid of Fear?
• 09:15 How Do Smart People Hide Their Fear?
• 13:13 What Was That Story About the First Lady?
• 16:00 What Does Courage Look Like in Daily Life?
• 17:58 How Do You Focus on What You Want Instead of What You Fear?
• 21:40 How Can a Manager Use This to Give Feedback?
• 23:50 How Do You Apply These Ideas as a Parent?
• 25:49 How Do You Stop Fear-Casting and Catastrophizing?
• 28:20 What’s a Personal Story You Had to Rescript?
• 32:40 What’s the Role of Language in Shaping Our Stories?
• 35:00 How Do You Prepare to Speak with Confidence?
• 39:16 What Reps Did You Put In to Build Courage?
• 42:20 What Role Has Failure Played in Building Courage?
• 44:34 How Do You Help Kids Build Courage?
• 46:34 End of Interview
• 47:09 Andy Comments After the Interview
• 52:53 Outtakes

You can learn more about Margie and her work at MargieWarrell.com.

For more learning on this topic, check out:

• Episode 440 with Kelli Thompson about closing the confidence gap.
• Episode 173 with Sarah Robb O’Hagan about why playing it safe is holding you back.
• Episode 142 with Amy Cuddy about her book Presence—confidently rise to your most daunting tasks.

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

Talent Triangle: Power Skills

Topics: Courage, Fear, Confidence, Difficult Conversations, Leadership, Emotional Intelligence, Communication, Personal Growth, Parenting, Vulnerability, Risk Management, Decision Making, Project Management

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

In this episode, Andy welcomes Dr. Patricia Grabarek, co-author of Leading for Wellness: How to Create a Team Culture Where Everyone Thrives. Patricia is an industrial-organizational psychologist and co-founder of Workr Beeing. She brings her expertise in workplace wellness, leadership behavior, and employee engagement to this timely conversation about how leaders can improve not just productivity, but people’s lives.

They explore the surprising truth that employee wellness isn’t about perks like step challenges or mindfulness apps--it’s about leadership. Patricia shares the difference between Generator leaders and Extinguisher leaders, how “Struggle Statements” foster psychological safety, and the simple yet powerful behaviors that make a lasting impact on your team’s wellbeing. From practical strategies for setting boundaries to powerful recovery practices, this conversation offers a playbook for leaders who want to create sustainable performance through human-centered leadership.

If you’re looking for insights on how to lead with empathy while driving results, this episode is for you!

• “What we learned is that people think about wellness holistically. It's very individual.”
• “You can’t yoga your way out of a toxic work environment.”
• “Most leaders don’t wake up and think, 'I'm going to extinguish my team today.' It happens slowly and unconsciously.”
• “I don't think anyone's waking up and being like, I wanna make work suck for everybody around me today!”
• “Leaders are people. They fail at things. They're not always doing well. And when you have this ideal leader, that's the persona you're putting on, then your employees don't trust you.”
• “Your behavior as a leader is the most powerful wellness intervention you can offer.”
• “When leaders share their struggles, it creates a ripple effect of trust.”
• “If you want your team to respect boundaries, you have to model them first.”
• “Employees don’t leave jobs—they leave leaders who extinguish them.”

• 00:00 Introduction
• 01:59 Start of Interview
• 02:11 What is Wellness?
• 04:05 Generators vs. Extinguishers
• 07:30 When Someone is an Inconsistent Extinguisher
• 08:57 What are Struggle Statements?
• 12:50 Recognizing Burnout and Its Signs
• 15:51 Strategies for Post-Work Recovery
• 18:12 The Role of Control With Stress
• 19:57 An Example of Someone Transforming How They Lead for Wellness
• 22:11 Organizational Wellness: What's Not Working?
• 23:53 Authenticity and Role Modeling in Leadership
• 26:20 Balancing Work and Life: Integrators vs. Segmenters
• 27:06 Fostering Wellness at Home
• 27:51 End of Interview
• 28:20 Andy Comments After the Interview
• 34:35 Outtakes

You can learn more about Patricia and her work at WorkrBeeing.com/book.

For more learning on this topic, check out:

• Episode 448 with Marie-Helene Pelletier about her book The Resilience Plan.
• Episode 398 with Dr. Neha Sangwan about her book on burnout.
• Episode 324 with Jim Harter from Gallup about building resilient cultures.

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

Talent Triangle: Power Skills

Topics: Leadership, Employee Wellness, Psychological Safety, Burnout, Team Culture, Vulnerability, Work-Life Balance, Authenticity, Empathy, Boundaries, Recovery, Organizational Health

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

In this episode, Andy talks with Dr. Joe Sutherland, co-author of the new book Analytics the Right Way: A Business Leader's Guide to Putting Data to Productive Use. Joe is a leader in AI policy and practice, serving as the founding director of the Emory Center for AI Learning and lead principal investigator for the U.S. AI Safety Institute Consortium.

Andy and Joe explore what it really takes to make better decisions in a world drowning in data and exploding with AI hype. They discuss the myths of data collection, how randomized controlled trials and causal inference impact decision quality, and Joe’s “two magic questions” that help project managers stay focused on outcomes. They also dive into recent AI breakthroughs like DeepSeek, and why executives may be paralyzed when it comes to implementing AI strategy.

If you're looking for insights on how to use data and AI more effectively to support leadership and project decision-making, this episode is for you!

• “What are we trying to achieve? And how would we know if we achieved it?”
• “Sometimes we’re measuring success by handing out coupons to people who already had the product in their cart.”
• “AI doesn’t replace decision-making—it demands better decisions from us.”
• “Causality is important for really big decisions because you want to know with a level of certainty that if I make this choice, this outcome is going to happen.”
• “Too often, we make decisions based on bad causal inference and wonder why the outcomes don’t match our expectations.”
• “The ladder of evidence helps you decide how much certainty you need before making a decision—and how much it’ll cost to climb higher.”
• “The truth is, we’re not ready for human-out-of-the-loop AI—we’re barely asking the right questions yet.”
• “Leadership isn’t about replacing people with AI. It’s about using AI to make your people more productive and happier.”
• “We're starting to see some evidence that when you use large language models in education, test scores go up in excess of 60%.”
• “This may be the first time the kids feel more behind than the parents when it comes to a new technology.”

• 00:00 Introduction
• 02:00 Start of Interview
• 02:09 What Are Some Myths About Data?
• 03:49 What Is the Potential Outcomes Framework?
• 08:50 What Are Counterfactuals?
• 13:00 How Do You Personally Evaluate Causality?
• 18:22 What Are the Two Magic Questions for Projects?
• 20:45 What's Getting Traction From the Book?
• 24:26 What Can We Learn From DeepSeek's Disruption?
• 27:30 Human In or Out of the AI Loop?
• 30:41 How Joe Uses AI Personally and Professionally
• 33:33 What Is the Future of Agentic AI?
• 35:37 Will AI Replace Jobs?
• 37:18 How Can Parents Prepare Kids for the AI Future?
• 41:19 End of Interview
• 41:46 Andy Comments After the Interview
• 45:07 Outtakes

You can learn more about Joe and his book at AnalyticsTRW.com.

For more learning on this topic, check out:

• Episode 381 with Jim Loehr about how to make wiser decisions.
• Episode 372 with Annie Duke on knowing when to quit.
• Episode 437 with Nada Sanders about future-prepping your career in the age of AI.

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

Talent Triangle: Power Skills

Topics: Leadership, Decision Making, Data Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, Project Management, Strategic Thinking, Causal Inference, Agile, AI Ethics, AI in Education, Machine Learning, Career Development, Future of Work

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