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People and Projects Podcast: Project Management Podcast

People and Projects Podcast: Project Management Podcast

Written by: Andy Kaufman PMP PMI-ACP
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 Welcome to the People and Projects Podcast, where we provide interviews and insights to help you lead people and deliver projects. Since 2009, this show is brought to you by speaker, author, and executive coach Andy Kaufman. If you're looking for insights on project management, leadership, and how AI influences both of those, you've come to the right place! And if you hold a project management certification, you can even earn free PDUs for listening!(c) 2001-2025 Institute for Leadership Excellence & Development Inc. Careers Economics Management Management & Leadership Personal Success
Episodes
  • PPP 488 | How to Be a Less Terrible Boss, with Joel Hilchey

    PPP 488 | How to Be a Less Terrible Boss, with Joel Hilchey
    Jan 2 2026
    Summary 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! Sound Bites "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." Chapters 00:00 Introduction02:08 Start of Interview02:20 Becoming an Accidental Boss07:10 The Four Leadership Quadrants12:10 Warning Signs You Are Neglecting People15:15 When Task Focus Goes Too Far21:24 Mediocrity Mongering and Good Enough Work25:47 The Value of a Crappy First Draft30:00 Removing Hassles from Team Work35:30 Lighthouse vs. Disco Ball Leadership39:40 Why Being 'Less Terrible' Matters45:40 Applying Leadership Lessons at Home48:31 End of Interview49:15 Andy Comments After the Interview52:38 Outtakes Learn More 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. Level Up Your AI Skills 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! Pass the PMP Exam This Year 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! Join Us for LEAD52 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
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    56 mins
  • PPP 487 | Why Humor Is a Serious Leadership Skill, with comedian Adam Christing

    PPP 487 | Why Humor Is a Serious Leadership Skill, with comedian Adam Christing
    Dec 26 2025
    Summary 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! Sound Bites "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." Chapters 00:00 Introduction01:43 Start of Interview03:38 Adam's Backstory and Early Influences05:23 "I'm Not Funny" and the Confidence Barrier10:36 Why Humor Is More Than Just Chuckles16:00 The Laughter Factor Explained18:10 Laugh Languages and the Power of Surprise21:09 Poke: Teasing Without Crossing the Line24:42 Using Humor Across Cultures30:14 How You Know the Laughter Factor Is Working32:17 Developing a Laughter Factor at Home34:25 End of Interview34:55 Andy Comments After the Interview38:02 Outtakes Learn More 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. Level Up Your AI Skills 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! Pass the PMP Exam 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! Join Us for LEAD52 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
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    43 mins
  • PPP 486 | How to Solve Some of the Toughest Leadership Problems, with business coach Dr. Katie Best

    PPP 486 | How to Solve Some of the Toughest Leadership Problems, with business coach Dr. Katie Best
    Dec 5 2025
    Summary 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! Sound Bites "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." Chapters 00:00 Introduction01:33 Start of Interview01:45 Early Influences on Leadership04:33 The Coaching Gap and Why She Wrote the Book05:47 What Is Performative Busyness?09:32 How Katie Protects Her Own Focus and Energy12:00 Introducing the SOLVE Framework18:00 Making Decisions with Uncertainty20:40 Power and Influence: What's the Difference?25:42 Why Influence Techniques Sometimes Backfire26:43 Encouraging Debate in "Too Nice" Cultures28:40 Building Psychological Safety on Your Team31:00 Advice for Women Leaders (and the Men Who Support Them)34:00 Leadership Lessons as a Parent35:55 End of Interview36:25 Andy Comments After the Interview40:19 Outtakes Learn More 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. Pass the PMP Exam 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! Level Up Your AI Skills 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! Join Us for LEAD52 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
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    42 mins
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