The Pragmatic Leadership Podcast

Did you know that empathy is tied to an organization's profits?  It's also not measured or managed effectively...which may be a significant contributing factor in company lay-offs.  Empathy builds trust, trust builds high-performing teams, and high-performing teams deliver value and increase profit.  Join me on this episode as I make a case for empathy to become a KPI...after all, it's been a great ROI input for thousands of years!Check out other episodes of the show and look for me on LinkedIn!

Projects across the world, and especially in the US, are sinkholes for cost; creating unnecessary and preventable waste.  And the organizations that run them are breeding pools for team member disengagement.  But they don't have to be!In this episode, I combine work from Martin Seligman, Stephen Devaux, and April K. Mills in an effort to address an issue in the fight against poor project management and dismal employee effort levels.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------References for this episode were taken from:1. Stephen Devaux's Critical Path Drag (Critical path drag - Wikipedia)2. SageJournal : https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797614543022 3. April K. Mills's book - Change Tactics: 50 Ways Change Agents Boldly Escape the Status Quo4. Martin Seligman's work on Learned Helplessness5.  HSI's article The True Cost of Poor Project Management - HSI6. Gallup research done in 2016 on employee engagement levelsCheck out other episodes of the show and look for me on LinkedIn!

It's a new season and today we kick it off with some insights and ponderings about MVB.  I'm grateful to have two individuals on the show to share their experiences about this topic and I hope you find it enlightening.Check out other episodes of the show and look for me on LinkedIn!

In today's episode, I discuss the importance of organizational values in their role to select and execute projects.  All too often projects fail as a result of unclear goals and objectives, but I submit that this is because organizations can lose sight of how these projects align with company values.  I also introduce the concepts of 'failure tripwires' and 'caution zones' as they relate to projects and organizational values.As always, your support is IMMENSELY appreciated.  Please leave a Like, comment, or review and enjoy the episode.Check out other episodes of the show and look for me on LinkedIn!

Stakeholders are critical to the effective completion of any project, but organizations often miss the mark in leveraging them appropriately.  In this episode, I discuss how to properly identify and communicate with stakeholders, suggest a new categorization model for stakeholders, and how to keep lines of communication open with stakeholders after a project is complete.Additionally, I'd like to give a small plug for a new podcast out there called "The Exit Row".  If you're interested in all things aviation, check it out at https://linktr.ee/theexitrowpod?fbclid=PAAabY3M2uqqfqkHKvAl2xRj_8RgdIep1JmiDQBuxHNkUy6v5F4yx05otaE7c !Check out other episodes of the show and look for me on LinkedIn!

Managing risk is not a complex process, but it does need to be thorough.  Leveraging the right people with the right attitude at the right time can pay dividends for your organization.  You just have to start with the basics.Check out other episodes of the show and look for me on LinkedIn!

Time is the ultimate currency; so much so that references to it have weaved their way into our vernacular.  In this episode, I discuss why we equate time with monetary value, the 8 Wastes of Lean, and tips on how to better manage your time to improve not only yourself, but also your team and organization.Check out other episodes of the show and look for me on LinkedIn!

It's the Season 2 Finale!  I provide what I think will be the Top 5 focus areas for leaders in 2023....DEI, ESG, etc. notwithstanding.Check out other episodes of the show and look for me on LinkedIn!

The project economy is here to stay, but that doesn't mean it'll look the same in future years as it does currently.  In this week's episode, I ponder the different types of project management, the future of the project economy, and how the role of project manager will evolve. I also ruminate on the skills that will become more needed and widespread than they are today.Check out other episodes of the show and look for me on LinkedIn!

This week I had the pleasure of interviewing Austin Kerr, Founder of Humanagement and current digital nomad working and living abroad in Europe.  He’s accumulated 15 years of experience in leading and managing small and large teams.  This has allowed him to create a team management and collaboration software to help improve organizational efficiency, day-to-day operations, and collaboration. Throughout the interview we discuss the growth of small businesses leading into the next 5 years, the importance of having disparate experience levels on teams, the future of work as it relates to the growing global and project economies, and how HR can benefit from the integration of new IT programs being developed.Don't forget to check out the Humanagement software at https://humanagement.io!Check out other episodes of the show and look for me on LinkedIn!

Mid-level leaders live in two realms: the day-to-day operations of their teams and the world of their organization's business strategy.  But so many of these under-represented individuals are often forced to learn the hard way of doing their jobs.  Their organizations often don't have formalized (or at least adequate) development roadmaps to help them be successful.In this episode I explore the FACT model of skills I believe any mid-level leader needs to be successful.Check out other episodes of the show and look for me on LinkedIn!

Educators play a critical role in our society.  They are uniquely positioned to lead, grow, and develop others who, in turn, have the potential to go on and lead, grow, and develop others across many industries.  In this week's episode, I have the honor of speaking with Lisa Sambat, a program coordinator, education professional, and project manager.We discuss her role as a teacher and leader, the importance of play in the workplace, key aspects of being a good citizen, and try to glean some nuggets of wisdom for future leaders.Check out other episodes of the show and look for me on LinkedIn!

So many people don't love being, nor are they good at being, a leader.  They just love the IDEA of it.  What we need is real talk on the subject...not just tools and training programs.In this episode, I take off the rose-colored glasses and reflect on what it's been like for me as a leader, the lessons I've learned, where I feel organizations get it wrong when choosing what it means to be a leader, and some general tips for current and would-be leaders.Check out other episodes of the show and look for me on LinkedIn!

The definition of success can and does vary widely across different sectors, cultures, and even at different points of your life.  How you choose to define success, face adversity, and help those around you do so will help shape the future.Check out other episodes of the show and look for me on LinkedIn!

The requirements elicitation phase of any project is crucial to ensuring the right product, service, or process is delivered.  Many organizations often focus on elicitation techniques while forgetting to account for the cognitive and cultural differences of the team...and that can make all the difference when it comes to scope management.Check out other episodes of the show and look for me on LinkedIn!

Actively listening to someone is important, but listening empathetically is crucial.  So often we listen to others in the hopes of solving their problems. Worse yet, we simply hear what's going on around us and don't engage.But what if the key was not listening to solve someone's problem?  What if the key was listening to connect with that person who struggles?Check out other episodes of the show and look for me on LinkedIn!

Sometimes the pursuit of something has bigger, longer lasting returns than actually achieving it.  Why settle for something temporary?Check out other episodes of the show and look for me on LinkedIn!

Is that project you're wanting to start really worth it?  Have you calculated ALL the costs and benefits?  What about the intangible ones?  This week, I discuss the importance of conducting a cost-benefit analysis for your projects.  Sometimes, even the good ideas aren't worth doing.*BONUS* - For a project management or process improvement consultation, check out milvetconsulting.squarespace.com.  I'd love to help answer any questions you have!Check out other episodes of the show and look for me on LinkedIn!

Project managers are leaders and, inevitably, leaders will in some fashion be a project manager.  In order to be effective at both, you need to ensure that a project is aligned with your organization's values, mission, and vision.Check out other episodes of the show and look for me on LinkedIn!

Are you as good as you think you are?  How often have you felt like your skills and abilities are just a sham and you have NO idea how you got to your current position?  Imposter syndrome and general feelings of inadequacy at work are nothing new.  This week, I discuss what imposter syndrome is, the personal and professional effects, and how to better manage those feelings.....and remember, you got this!Check out other episodes of the show and look for me on LinkedIn!