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.
Too many risk logs become forgotten documents instead of practical tools. This episode looks at how to design a risk log that sparks accountability, drives proactive action, and truly supports decision making.
Change requests are inevitable, but how they are handled can make or break delivery. This episode looks at how to design a change control process that keeps projects adaptable without creating unnecessary bottlenecks.
When stakeholders disagree on what success looks like, projects risk misaligned priorities, poor decisions, and disappointing outcomes. This episode shares practical methods to surface differences early, create measurable success criteria, and keep them visible throughout delivery so the entire team works toward the same finish line.
Silence isn’t always a sign of agreement. This episode looks at what unspoken resistance sounds like and how to create space for the tough conversations projects need.
Fixed dates can create pressure that distorts decisions. This episode breaks down how to protect delivery quality without ignoring legitimate deadlines.
Deferred decisions are easy to justify and hard to recover from. We unpack why teams delay tough calls and how to surface unresolved issues before they derail progress.
Too many post-project reviews produce no change. Learn how to make lessons learned useful, honest, and actionable - not just a checkbox at the end.
Every project hits snags, but what you do next matters. In this episode, we break down how to set up and use an issue log that keeps problems visible, assigned, and moving toward resolution. Learn practical tips, real examples, and small tweaks that make a big impact.
In this episode, we examine proven techniques for conducting meaningful project health checks that go beyond basic status reports. Learn why traditional metrics often fall short and discover the five critical areas every project manager should monitor. We share practical strategies for asking the right questions, implementing effective measurement systems, and identifying early warning signs of potential issues. Drawing from real-world examples and backed by research, this episode provides actionable methods to enhance your project monitoring approach and increase your success rate through systematic, objective assessments.
Your Gantt chart says you're on track, but something feels off about your project timeline. This episode reveals why most project schedules are built on wishful thinking rather than reality, examining the planning fallacy that makes us chronically optimistic about deadlines. Learn practical techniques like reverse scheduling, reality-based estimation using actual historical data, and strategic buffer placement. Discover how to conduct schedule health checks that reveal problems before they derail your project and why an accurate timeline beats an optimistic one every time.
Projects can succeed on paper and still miss the mark in practice. In this episode, we look at how to make sure your team is solving the right problem from start to finish. Learn practical methods like alignment checkpoints, reframing exercises, and traceability tools that help keep your objectives grounded in actual business needs.
Feeling stuck at the start of a project? You're not alone. In this episode, we tackle the common roadblocks project managers face when transitioning from an idea to a structured plan. Learn how to approach kickoff timing, structure your planning process step-by-step, and avoid analysis paralysis by focusing on momentum. Discover strategies for turning uncertainty into action and setting a strong foundation for project success. Tune in and take the guesswork out of project initiation!
Starting your first project management role can feel overwhelming when stakeholders expect answers you don't have and teams look to you for direction. This episode covers the essential lessons every new PM needs to know about building relationships over perfecting processes, managing imposter syndrome, and learning when to say no. Discover why your beautiful project plan will inevitably fall apart, how to prioritize ruthlessly when everything seems urgent, and practical strategies for preventing burnout while proving yourself in a demanding new role.
What transforms a six-month initiative into a two-year marathon with no finish line in sight? This episode examines the difference between scope creep and the more insidious problem of missing completion criteria. Learn how to establish meaningful "done criteria" from the start, conduct project audits to reclaim focus, and implement "change seasons" to prevent constant revisions. Discover when to transition from project mode to operational mode and how to recognize when your temporary initiative has become permanent work in disguise.
Are your status reports hiding more than revealing? In this episode, we tackle the crucial skill of creating project updates that balance transparency with strategic messaging. Learn practical techniques for communicating project realities without undermining stakeholder confidence. Discover how to present challenges alongside solutions, use visual elements effectively, and implement progressive disclosure for different audiences. Find out why honest reporting builds lasting trust and why most project managers get it wrong. Plus, we share a cautionary tale that demonstrates the high cost of status report deception.
Many project managers believe that throwing more people at a late project will speed things up - but history proves otherwise. In this episode, we break down the Mythical Man-Month, why effort doesn’t scale the way you think, and how to actually get a delayed project back on track.