Project Management Insights

Vendor relationships can make or break your project, yet many project managers lack formal procurement training. This episode walks through the complete procurement process with practical techniques you can apply immediately. Learn how to write focused RFPs that attract better responses by answering three essential questions instead of creating 50-page documents that eliminate smaller vendors. Discover how to evaluate proposals objectively using scoring matrices and blind evaluation techniques that counter unconscious bias. We cover contract negotiation fundamentals including payment terms tied to deliverables, specific acceptance criteria, warranty periods, and termination clauses that protect your project. You’ll learn how to create vendor management plans covering communication cadence, performance monitoring, and issue escalation. We address preventing informal scope creep through formal change control, ensuring knowledge transfer so expertise doesn’t walk out the door, and building partnership dynamics while maintaining professional accountability. Perfect for project managers who want vendors to become force multipliers rather than sources of problems, with actionable strategies for turning procurement into a project strength.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Project Management in Practice SeriesThis episode is part of a structured series that organizes episodes into a coherent curriculum for practising project managers. It keeps each episode self-contained while allowing listeners to follow a logical progression from project initiation to delivery control. Each focuses on a concrete, practical aspect of day-to-day project delivery.

Most communication plans are comprehensive documents that satisfy process requirements but fail to manage actual communication. This episode reveals how to build communication strategies that stakeholders will use and appreciate, starting with a fundamental shift: design around what people need to know to make decisions, not what you think they should know about your project. Learn the three-question framework for identifying real communication requirements, how to create communication matrices with success criteria that drive quality over frequency, and why more communication often trains people to ignore you. We cover the communication diet technique for eliminating noise, how to design meeting cadences around decision velocity instead of calendar defaults, and practical approaches for creating communication channels that prevent email chaos. You’ll discover how to build explicit escalation frameworks for problem communication, conduct communication audits that reveal what’s actually working, and create stakeholder communication agreements that prevent frustration. Perfect for project managers tired of producing reports nobody reads and ready to focus on signal instead of noise.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Project Management in Practice SeriesThis episode is part of a structured series that organizes episodes into a coherent curriculum for practising project managers. It keeps each episode self-contained while allowing listeners to follow a logical progression from project initiation to delivery control. Each focuses on a concrete, practical aspect of day-to-day project delivery.

Master the art of status reporting that actually gets read and drives action. Learn how to tailor reports for different audiences, from executives who need the big picture to teams who need operational details. Discover when to mark projects red instead of staying stuck in amber, how to build dashboards that inform decisions rather than just display data, and why your status report is one of your most powerful tools for building stakeholder trust. This episode covers practical techniques for turning status reporting from a dreaded chore into a strategic advantage, including the three-question framework executives really care about, the sleep test for RAG status, and how to structure reports that take minutes to write but deliver maximum impact.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Project Management in Practice SeriesThis episode is part of a structured series that organizes episodes into a coherent curriculum for practising project managers. It keeps each episode self-contained while allowing listeners to follow a logical progression from project initiation to delivery control. Each focuses on a concrete, practical aspect of day-to-day project delivery.

Stop treating risk management as a checkbox exercise. In this episode, we break down the critical difference between risks and issues, reveal why most risk registers fail, and show you how to build a practical approach that actually protects your projects. Learn how to identify risks continuously, use probability-impact matrices effectively, create response plans with real teeth, and monitor what matters. We cover the four legitimate risk response strategies, explain why your junior team members are your best early warning system, and share concrete examples from real projects. Whether you’re managing software implementations, construction projects, or product launches, you’ll walk away with actionable techniques to spot problems early and respond quickly. This is risk management that serves your project, not your governance committee.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Project Management in Practice SeriesThis episode is part of a structured series that organizes episodes into a coherent curriculum for practising project managers. It keeps each episode self-contained while allowing listeners to follow a logical progression from project initiation to delivery control. Each focuses on a concrete, practical aspect of day-to-day project delivery.

Learn the critical skill of protecting your project scope while maintaining strong stakeholder relationships. This episode covers how to write effective scope statements with clear boundaries, implement change control processes that build trust rather than create friction, and handle change requests using impact analysis and strategic communication. Discover practical techniques like the “yes, and” approach, future phase backlogs, and proactive scope reviews. We examine real-world scenarios including software implementations and system upgrades, showing you how to quantify change impacts, present informed trade-offs, and know when to be firm versus flexible. You’ll learn why timing matters when delivering difficult news, how to remove scope items without damaging relationships, and why strong scope management is about being intentional, not inflexible. Perfect for project managers who want to deliver on commitments while keeping stakeholders engaged and satisfied.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Project Management in Practice SeriesThis episode is part of a structured series that organizes episodes into a coherent curriculum for practising project managers. It keeps each episode self-contained while allowing listeners to follow a logical progression from project initiation to delivery control. Each focuses on a concrete, practical aspect of day-to-day project delivery.

Learn how to create project schedules that actually work. This episode covers the fundamentals of work breakdown structures, task dependencies, and critical path analysis with practical techniques you can use immediately. Discover how to estimate task duration realistically, avoid common scheduling pitfalls, and make the most of your scheduling tools whether you’re using Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, or Excel. You’ll learn when to challenge dependencies, how to identify your critical path, where to place schedule buffers, and how to keep your schedule updated and useful throughout the project. Includes real-world examples of schedule compression, resource loading, and stakeholder communication. Perfect for project managers who want to move beyond simple task lists and gain real control over their project timelines. Project Management in Practice SeriesThis episode is part of a structured series that organizes episodes into a coherent curriculum for practising project managers. It keeps each episode self-contained while allowing listeners to follow a logical progression from project initiation to delivery control. Each focuses on a concrete, practical aspect of day-to-day project delivery.

Master the art of the project kickoff meeting. A kickoff shapes expectations more than any other early meeting. This episode explains the essential elements of a clear, disciplined kickoff deck, from goals and scope to governance and schedule outline. It also covers how to run the meeting, how to manage dominant personalities, and how to close with concrete alignment rather than polite nods.Project Management in Practice SeriesThis episode is part of a structured series that organizes episodes into a coherent curriculum for practising project managers. It keeps each episode self-contained while allowing listeners to follow a logical progression from project initiation to delivery control. Each focuses on a concrete, practical aspect of day-to-day project delivery.

Missing a critical stakeholder can derail your project before it gains momentum. This episode reveals systematic approaches to identify all project stakeholders, from obvious sponsors to hidden influencers who control resources you need. Learn the three-question method for comprehensive stakeholder discovery, how to use power-interest grids that adapt as your project evolves, and when RACI matrices actually help versus when they create confusion. We cover practical techniques for stakeholder interviews that uncover the people others miss, how to create actionable stakeholder registers without bureaucratic overhead, and strategies for managing resistors instead of ignoring them. You’ll discover how to avoid stakeholder fatigue, when to review your stakeholder map, and why end users deserve a voice early in your project. Perfect for project managers who want to prevent surprises, build support proactively, and understand that stakeholder mapping is ongoing detective work, not a one-time exercise. Project Management in Practice SeriesThis episode is part of a structured series that organizes episodes into a coherent curriculum for practising project managers. It keeps each episode self-contained while allowing listeners to follow a logical progression from project initiation to delivery control. Each focuses on a concrete, practical aspect of day-to-day project delivery.

Transform project ideas into formal charters that actually work. This episode covers the essential components every charter needs, from writing business cases that get executive attention to defining scope boundaries that prevent creep. Learn why some charters succeed while others fail, discover the pre-socialization technique that gets stakeholder buy-in, and walk away with practical strategies for creating charters that establish authority and alignment. Includes real examples from healthcare, retail, manufacturing, and technology projects, plus actionable techniques you can use on your next project starting today.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Project Management in Practice SeriesThis episode is part of a structured series that organizes episodes into a coherent curriculum for practising project managers. It keeps each episode self-contained while allowing listeners to follow a logical progression from project initiation to delivery control. Each focuses on a concrete, practical aspect of day-to-day project delivery.

What causes a straightforward project to evolve into a tangled web of delays, confusion, and hidden complexity? In this episode, we uncover the subtle early warning signs of scope creep, shifting priorities, and decision overload. Learn how to recognize when a project is starting to drift, apply scope discipline, and maintain clarity before complexity takes over.

Some project threats work quietly behind the scenes, slowly eroding trust and alignment. This episode uncovers how avoidance, ambiguity, and passive resistance can derail progress, why they often go unnoticed, and how project managers can identify and address them before they take hold.

Excessive documentation can quietly drain a project’s momentum, turning valuable processes into bureaucratic roadblocks. This episode examines how to distinguish essential records from unnecessary paperwork, offering practical ways to streamline reporting, maintain compliance, and keep teams focused on delivery.

When a high-profile AI education program collapsed just months after launch, it exposed deep flaws in planning, testing, and stakeholder engagement. This episode examines how skipping pilots, underestimating user resistance, and relying on unstable sponsorship can turn innovation into failure, and what project managers can do to prevent similar setbacks.

When optimism hides the truth, projects drift further from reality. This episode examines how denial takes hold in teams and leadership, the subtle signs that problems are being buried, and practical ways to bring issues to light without provoking defensiveness.

Many agile teams skip project charters in the name of speed and flexibility. This episode examines why charters still matter, how to adapt them for agile delivery, and what happens when teams try to move forward without one.

What happens when you’re assigned a project that lacks support, visibility, or enthusiasm? This episode looks at why these projects matter, how to maintain team morale, and ways to secure commitment when success feels optional.

Delayed approvals and stalled decisions can silently derail projects. This episode examines why decision-making bottlenecks occur, how to design faster approval processes, and when to escalate issues without harming stakeholder relationships.

Project plans often fail not because of poor design but because they rely on data that no longer reflects reality. This episode examines why plans decay faster than most managers expect, how to identify when inputs have gone stale, and practical ways to keep planning data accurate and actionable throughout the project.

Many RAID logs end up as static documents that no one actually uses. This episode looks at how to transform Risks, Assumptions, Issues, and Dependencies into an active tool that drives accountability, decision making, and daily project progress.

Many project failures trace back to assumptions that were never tested. This episode looks at how to identify, track, and challenge assumptions before they turn into costly setbacks.