In this episode, Andy talks with Peter Cappelli and Ranya Nehmeh, co-authors of In Praise of the Office: The Limits to Hybrid and Remote Work. In a world still grappling with virtual work, Peter and Ranya challenge us to take a fresh look at the workplace. Not just where we do work, but how that space shapes learning, culture, visibility, and performance.

In this conversation, you'll hear what gets lost when teams are always virtual, why hybrid work often underdelivers, and how proximity plays a surprising role in mentoring, innovation, and even career progression. Peter and Ranya explore how organizational culture shifts when people are rarely together, and what leaders can do to intentionally design experiences that rebuild connection—even across distance.

You'll walk away with insights on how to lead hybrid teams more effectively, how to help team members think differently about in-person time, and why space is not just a backdrop to work—it's a contributor to how work gets done. If you're leading a team in today's hybrid landscape and wondering what really matters, this episode is for you!

• "Remote work disembodies employees and limits their capacity to build relationships, learn informally, and get noticed."
• "The most frequent way people got promoted was by being visible to their managers."
• "Slack and Teams are a poor substitute for face-to-face interactions and a terrible way to learn culture or figure out who knows what."
• "Informal communication is essential to how work gets done, and it doesn't happen easily when everyone is remote."
• "Hybrid sounds great in theory, but it rarely delivers the benefits of in-person work unless it's intentionally designed."
• "People don't always know what they need to know, and much of what's important is learned indirectly."
• "We're not saying remote doesn't work. But we are saying there are trade-offs, and many companies haven't fully reckoned with them."
• "One big problem with hybrid is that it often ends up being asynchronous. No one's in at the same time."
• "The office was never perfect, but it enabled certain human processes that are hard to replicate at a distance."
• "If you're going to make remote or hybrid work well, it requires real investment in new systems and norms, not just wishful thinking."
• "We have to be honest about what we're losing, not just what we're gaining."
• "Serendipitous learning is one of the most underappreciated losses of remote work."

• 00:00 Introduction
• 01:38 Start of Interview
• 01:45 What Is There to Praise About Remote Work?
• 04:34 Why Is the Push to Return Happening Now?
• 09:51 What Do We Lose with Remote Work?
• 13:18 What Problems Persist in Hybrid Models?
• 17:40 What Are Companies Doing to Make Hybrid Work?
• 20:20 Advice for Leading Hybrid Project Teams
• 25:42 Advice for Individual Contributors Navigating Hybrid Work
• 29:59 How Culture Shapes Remote and Office Decisions
• 33:14 Lessons from Co-Writing the Book
• 35:59 End of Interview
• 36:32 Andy Comments After the Interview
• 40:15 Outtakes

You can learn more about Peter at mgmt.wharton.upenn.edu/profile/cappelli and about Ranya at RanyaNehmeh.com.

For more learning on this topic, check out:

• Episode 457 with Andrew Brodsky. It's an insightful take on how we can avoid the mistakes that happen when teams are not collocated, with an author who I think is a future Adam Grant.
• Episode 361 with Yasmina Khelifi, who joined us to talk about leading virtual teams, specifically across cultures. Yasmina is a hands-on project manager so you can hear her take from that perspective.
• Episode 22 with Keith Ferrazzi. It's a discussion about his book Who's Got Your Back? and it contains ideas that I still use, over a decade after talking with Keith.

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!

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: Business Acumen

Topics: Leadership, Hybrid Teams, Remote Work, Organizational Culture, Career Development, Team Collaboration, Psychological Safety, Communication, Mentorship, Project Management, Work Environment, Employee Engagement

The following music was used for this episode:

Music: Ignotus by Agnese Valmaggia 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 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.

• "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."

• 00:00 Introduction
• 01:45 Start of Interview
• 01:55 Family Influence and Early Experiences
• 06:45 Recognizing the Brain Bully
• 12:28 Learning Resilience Over Time
• 14:08 Giving Feedback That Helps Instead of Hurts
• 15:50 Metabolizing Fear Instead of Eliminating It
• 20:05 Rejection and the Origin of the Book
• 23:00 Strategies from the Book for Big Feelings
• 26:15 The Business Equivalent of Jumping Up and Down
• 28:50 When Just Keep Going Does Not Apply
• 31:50 How Lynn and Her Team Help Leaders
• 34:10 End of Interview
• 34:47 Andy Comments After the Interview
• 37:30 Outtakes

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.

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!

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.

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

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!

• "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."

• 00:00 Introduction
• 01:45 Start of Interview
• 02:00 Barry's Early Career Influences and Business Perspective
• 06:42 Why Leaders Rely So Heavily on Assessments
• 09:25 The "Yes, Buts" of Psychological Tools
• 15:20 What We Get Wrong About Maslow's Hierarchy
• 19:00 From Paying for Activities to Buying Results
• 23:30 Connecting Project Work to Real Value
• 24:00 Introducing The Same Page
• 28:47 The Most Overlooked Element of Leadership
• 33:47z Looking Ahead at AI, Automation, and the Future of Work
• 41:22 End of Interview
• 42:03 Andy Comments After the Interview
• 45:19 Outtakes

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.

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!

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!

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, Decision Making

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

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!

• "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."

• 00:00 Introduction
• 01:42 Start of Interview
• 02:00 Marty's Background and Family Influence
• 05:38 What Drives Marty Crazy About Leadership Books
• 08:20 Identity Blindspots and Leadership Roles
• 11:00 Why Motive Is So Hard to See
• 13:00 Using Emotion to Reveal Motives
• 14:00 When Strengths Become Weaknesses
• 17:50 Practical Ways to Spot Trait Blindspots
• 19:00 Emotional Awareness and Leadership Influence
• 21:10 Regulating Emotion Versus Repressing It
• 22:50 Building a Change Plan That Works
• 26:20 A Client Story That Shows Blindspotting in Action
• 28:20 Applying Blindspotting to Parenting (and Grandparenting)
• 30:14 End of Interview
• 30:45 Andy Comments After the Interview
• 35:42 Outtakes

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.

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!

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!

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

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!

• "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."

• 00:00 Introduction
• 02:08 Start of Interview
• 02:20 Becoming an Accidental Boss
• 07:10 The Four Leadership Quadrants
• 12:10 Warning Signs You Are Neglecting People
• 15:15 When Task Focus Goes Too Far
• 21:24 Mediocrity Mongering and Good Enough Work
• 25:47 The Value of a Crappy First Draft
• 30:00 Removing Hassles from Team Work
• 35:30 Lighthouse vs. Disco Ball Leadership
• 39:40 Why Being 'Less Terrible' Matters
• 45:40 Applying Leadership Lessons at Home
• 48:31 End of Interview
• 49:15 Andy Comments After the Interview
• 52:38 Outtakes

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.

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!

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!

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

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!

• "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."

• 00:00 Introduction
• 01:43 Start of Interview
• 03:38 Adam's Backstory and Early Influences
• 05:23 "I'm Not Funny" and the Confidence Barrier
• 10:36 Why Humor Is More Than Just Chuckles
• 16:00 The Laughter Factor Explained
• 18:10 Laugh Languages and the Power of Surprise
• 21:09 Poke: Teasing Without Crossing the Line
• 24:42 Using Humor Across Cultures
• 30:14 How You Know the Laughter Factor Is Working
• 32:17 Developing a Laughter Factor at Home
• 34:25 End of Interview
• 34:55 Andy Comments After the Interview
• 38:02 Outtakes

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.

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!

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!

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

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!

• "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."

• 00:00 Introduction
• 01:33 Start of Interview
• 01:45 Early Influences on Leadership
• 04:33 The Coaching Gap and Why She Wrote the Book
• 05:47 What Is Performative Busyness?
• 09:32 How Katie Protects Her Own Focus and Energy
• 12:00 Introducing the SOLVE Framework
• 18:00 Making Decisions with Uncertainty
• 20:40 Power and Influence: What's the Difference?
• 25:42 Why Influence Techniques Sometimes Backfire
• 26:43 Encouraging Debate in "Too Nice" Cultures
• 28:40 Building Psychological Safety on Your Team
• 31:00 Advice for Women Leaders (and the Men Who Support Them)
• 34:00 Leadership Lessons as a Parent
• 35:55 End of Interview
• 36:25 Andy Comments After the Interview
• 40:19 Outtakes

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.

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!

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!

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

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!

• "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."

• 00:00 Introduction
• 01:46 Start of Interview
• 01:57 Career Backstory
• 07:30 Acting Skills in Daily Work
• 12:00 Busy vs Productive
• 14:07 Project vs Product
• 17:20 Teams as Troupes
• 22:13 Meeting Tools and Techniques
• 27:37 Laugh Testability
• 33:35 Creative Mindsets at Work
• 35:21 Co-Authoring and Collaboration
• 38:00 Applying Ideas at Home
• 40:33 End of Interview
• 41:05 Andy Comments After the Interview
• 44:13 Outtakes

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.

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!

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!

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

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!

• "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?"

• 00:00 Introduction
• 01:33 Start of Interview
• 01:42 Early Life and Influences
• 02:57 Growing Up with Technology
• 04:11 What is Digiwhelm?
• 06:26 How Does It Compare to Overload?
• 08:35 The Impact of a David Ford Quote
• 10:34 Understanding Mode Switching
• 16:20 A Day in Communication Modes
• 22:04 Email as Conversation
• 24:29 Writing Email Like You Talk
• 27:24 Dissemination in Practice
• 32:00 Signals Leaders Should Notice
• 39:00 Coping with Digiwhelm at Home
• 43:04 End of Interview
• 43:44 Andy Comments After the Interview
• 48:14 Outtakes

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.

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!

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!

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

In this episode, Andy talks with Amireh Amirmazaheri, CEO of PMO Solutions and a leading voice in the global PMO community. From growing up in Iran during a time of war to building a respected consultancy in Australia, Amireh shares how resilience and curiosity shaped her approach to leadership and enabling project success. You'll hear how PMOs have evolved from administrative hubs to strategic influencers, what it means to truly "speak the language of executives," and how to recognize when a PMO is at risk of drifting into irrelevance. We also explore how AI is transforming the work of PMOs and what leaders can do to stay ahead of the curve. Plus, Amireh offers practical advice on leading as a woman in project management and applying PMO principles at home as a parent.

If you're looking for insights on elevating PMO impact, executive communication, and leading through change, this episode is for you!

• "Limitations aren't always bad. They push us into the creativity zone."
• "Executives don't want red or amber. They want to know where the ship is heading."
• "When PMOs chase BAU firefighting, they lose their strategic brain."
• "If PMOs stay educated and ahead of the game, they can influence the AI journey."
• "It's okay to cry. Then think, learn, and lead."
• "Um, should I tell you that my little one has a kanban board?"

• 00:00 Introduction
• 01:31 Start of Interview
• 01:42 Early Life in Iran and Resilience
• 12:56 Lessons About Enablement
• 15:02 How PMOs Have Changed
• 18:55 Speaking the Language of Executives
• 21:22 Failure Clues and PMO Drift
• 25:11 Sponsorship as a Risk Factor
• 26:08 Using AI and Its Near-Term Impact on PMOs
• 32:25 Leading as a Woman
• 37:44 Applying PM and PMO Ideas at Home
• 40:22 PMO Global Alliance Overview
• 42:15 End of Interview
• 42:50 Andy Comments After the Interview
• 46:22 Outtakes

You can learn more about Amireh and her work at PMOSol.com, or connect with her on LinkedIn.

For more learning on this topic, check out:

• Episode 436 with Laura Barnard, about the IMPACT Engine
• Episode 429 with Bill Dow, about PMO insights
• Episode 187 with Peter Taylor, Bill Dow, and others, about the State of PMOs

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!

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!

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: Ways of Working

Topics: PMOs, Executive Communication, Leadership, AI in Projects, Change Management, Strategic Thinking, Women in Leadership, Organizational Influence, Resilience, Stakeholder Engagement, Career Growth, 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