Kevin is taking a short break from the People, Process, Progress podcast until September. During this time, he's focused on publishing The Stability Equation audiobook, finishing his new project management book, and lining up future guests. Visit peopleprocessprogress.com for tools, resources, and ways to connect. Until then: own your mind, move your body, anchor your spirit.

Godspeed y’all

Kevin

When your plan falls apart, your recovery starts with the habits you've built before things went sideways. In this Foundations Friday episode, Build the Bounce, One Habit at a Time, we focus on simple actions that help you reset, refocus, and respond, rather than react when life punches first.

This week’s anchor point is mindfulness and movement. It’s not about being tough. It’s about being trained.

Topics Covered:

• Why daily habits matter more than perfect plans
• How to mentally prepare for the unexpected
• Simple resilience-building practices
• Personal reflections on bounce-back moments
• One actionable habit you can start today

Related Episode:

“When Your Plan Gets Punched in the Mouth” – Listen here: https://peopleprocessprogress.com/2025/07/14/when-your-plan-gets-punched-in-the-mouth/

For Stability: Own your mind. Move your body. Anchor your spirit.

For leading: Hold on to hope. Make a plan. Take action.

Godspeed, y’all.

What do you do when your perfect plan falls apart?

In this episode, How to Lead When Your Plan Falls Apart, I share how the concepts of tension and compression from Jiu-Jitsu can help you lead through pressure, adapt in real time, and still move forward.

Whether you’re leading a project, managing a team, or showing up at home, you’ll learn how to adjust without losing momentum.

Hope ignites. Plans guide. Action transforms.

In this Anchor Points episode, I reflect on what it really means to recognize when it’s time to step back and let someone else lead. Whether you’re a parent, a partner, or a project leader, there’s a moment when guidance turns into trust and support becomes space.

Inspired by the full episode released earlier this week, “The Day My Son Surpassed Me”, this short-form reflection focuses on the value of noticing and honoring transitions, especially when they catch you by surprise.

In this 5-minute listen, you’ll hear:

• What it means to see strength rise in someone else
• How giving space can be the most powerful form of support
• A simple action to help you pause before you react

Mentioned in this episode:

There comes a moment when we realize our kids are no longer just following us, they’re leading in their way. In this episode, "What I Learned the Day My Son Surpassed Me," I share the story of how my son surpassed me, not just in the gym, but also in emotional steadiness. I also share how that shifted my approach to parenting, leadership, and letting go.

• Inspired by a powerful quote from Ryan Holiday's The Daily Dad: “Your job isn’t to raise a good kid. It’s to raise a good adult.” - Read more at https://dailydad.com/

Since 2019, I’ve led major IT programs, including Workday ERP and the technology for a new children’s hospital, while mainly working remotely. In this episode, "Remote, Hybrid, or In-Office: What's the Right Fit?", I break down the pros and cons of remote, hybrid, and in-office work, drawing on real-world experience and leadership lessons.

Links:

Full article on LinkedIn:

• https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/remote-hybrid-in-office-whats-right-fit-your-work-life-kevin-pannell-kqvce

Related episode from 2020:

• https://blubrry.com/peopleprocessprogress/83155078/how-to-transition-to-effective-teleworking-in-2020-ppp-12/

When leaders try to manage too many people directly, clarity disappears and momentum suffers. In this episode, I break down the importance of span of control across public safety, healthcare IT, and project teams. Whether you're building a department, spinning up an incident team, or planning a go-live, the rule of 3 to 7 direct reports still holds. Five is the sweet spot—but there are exceptions.

We’ll walk through how ICS uses structure to maintain speed under pressure, how project teams should plan their structure during resource alignment, and why we must review roles and objectives regularly to stay on track. Whether you lead full-time staff or ad hoc teams, this episode is your blueprint for sustainable team design.

People first. Combined process. Progress together.

On this Foundations Friday, How to Align Risk Language Across Teams, we break down how project managers and emergency leaders can align around a shared risk language. Whether you're using a THIRA or a risk register, the goal is the same: identify what could go wrong, how bad it might be, and what to do about it. Real teamwork starts when everyone sees risk through the same lens.

Warren Buffett said it best: “Risk comes from not knowing what you're doing.”

On today’s episode, How to Combine Project Risk Tools with Emergency Planning, we’re focusing on how project managers and public safety leaders can speak the same language when it comes to risk. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, created the Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment—also known as THIRA—to help communities anticipate and plan for the unknown. In the same way, project risk registers help uncover obstacles before they become blockers. Today, we’ll connect the dots between THIRA, stakeholder maps, and integrated risk matrices—so your team can prepare, prioritize, and progress, no matter the scenario.

In this Foundations Friday, Why Structure Must Come Before Action, we explore the importance of applying project structure to any event or initiative. Whether you're planning a community gathering, a training workshop, or a major deployment, structure is your best friend. Learn two quick strategies to lead with clarity and avoid chaos.

What You'll Learn:

• Why structure should come before action
• How to define your event like a project charter
• Two simple ways to build a planning foundation
• A reminder that leadership starts with preparation

Paired Full Episode: