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Achieving project success involves more than managing timelines and deliverables; it starts with assembling the right team. In this episode, award-winning project management consultant and speaker, Dawn Mahan, shares her expertise on creating cohesive, effective project teams and maximizing the impact of each role. With her extensive experience advising senior leaders, Dawn brings a wealth of practical insights to help project managers make the best use of their team members’ skills and ensure everyone is aligned with the project’s objectives.

Drawing from her book, "Meet the Players in Project Land," Dawn discusses essential project roles, including the sponsor, steering team, project manager, and team leads. She highlights the challenges of pre-assigned team members, aligning sponsor expectations, and fostering a team culture that transcends traditional hierarchies. Dawn also reveals practical strategies for managing stakeholders, including handling challenging personalities who may impact the project.

This episode offers valuable guidance on maintaining alignment, setting clear expectations, and leading a successful project team, making it a must-listen for project managers aiming to enhance their leadership and team-building skills.

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Every project manager faces the complex challenge of balancing priorities across multiple dimensions, from tracking budgets and deadlines to nurturing productive teams. In this episode, Ben Willmott, founder of PPM Academy, joins us to break down his three fundamental pillars for achieving consistent project success. With over 20 years of industry experience, Ben shares insights on how these pillars – project health, financial health, and team health – can simplify the path to effective project management. His focus on practical, adaptable methods empowers project managers to navigate project complexities and drive high-impact outcomes.

Ben emphasizes that mastering these pillars isn’t just about adhering to strict methodologies; it’s about equipping project managers to make informed, timely decisions that align with project goals. Through real-world examples, Ben demonstrates the versatility of his three-pillar approach across industries and project types, showing how any project manager can implement these foundational principles. Watch and gain actionable advice on effectively monitoring these critical aspects and ensuring your projects are successful and sustainable.

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Remote leadership has become an essential skill in today’s project-driven environment, and mastering it can give you a distinct competitive advantage. In this episode, Cornelius Fichtner welcomes Wayne Turmel, an expert in remote work and leadership, to discuss how project managers can adapt their leadership styles to meet the demands of virtual teams. Wayne shares practical strategies and tools managers can use to build trust, communicate effectively, and foster engagement in remote work.

Listeners will learn actionable techniques to ensure their teams stay productive and motivated, despite the challenges of physical distance. Wayne explains how communication and leadership styles must evolve when managing virtual teams, emphasizing the importance of clarity, empathy, and consistency. Whether you're leading a fully remote team or managing hybrid work environments, the insights shared in this episode will help you take your leadership skills to the next level.

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Volunteering in project management is much more than just lending a hand. It's a powerful personal and professional growth tool, particularly in honing leadership abilities. In this episode, we’re joined by Mayte Mata Sivera and Yasmina Khelifi, co-authors of the book The Volunteering Journey to Project Leadership, who share their experiences and insights into how project managers can leverage volunteering opportunities to develop critical skills.

Mayte, a PMO Director with a background in chemical engineering, shares how her involvement with TEDx Salt Lake City opened doors to new networks and industries. She explains how leading volunteer projects teaches essential skills such as delegation, adaptability, and networking, which translate seamlessly into the workplace. Yasmina, a global project manager in the telecom industry, discusses her experiences volunteering for multiple PMI chapters and how it helped her improve her communication skills and work with diverse, international teams.

The discussion also touches on how project managers can strategically choose volunteering roles to align with their career goals, and how the experiences gained through these opportunities can enhance their professional network and provide practical leadership experiences. They both highlight the importance of adaptability, commitment, and managing expectations in volunteer work to ensure meaningful, transferable leadership development.

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This discussion focuses on the crucial topic of project meetings, featuring insights from expert guests Rich Maltzman and Jim Stewart. Rich and Jim, both seasoned project management professionals, share their extensive experience in transforming inefficient and unproductive meetings into powerful tools that drive project success. With decades of experience between them, they reveal actionable tips and strategies that every project manager can apply to rescue their meetings from the brink of chaos.

Rich Maltzman, a respected consultant and author, and Jim Stewart, a seasoned project management expert, bring unique insights into why meetings often go off track and how to get them back to focus. They discuss the importance of setting clear objectives, managing stakeholder expectations, and ensuring that every meeting has a purpose. Additionally, they emphasize the role of leadership in maintaining meeting discipline and share practical techniques for keeping discussions productive and on-point.

Whether you need help with meetings that consistently run over time, fail to achieve their goals, or leave participants more confused than informed, this episode provides the guidance you need to turn things around. Rich and Jim's insights equip you with the tools to make every meeting a step toward project success rather than a dreaded chore.

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We explore the intricate balance between the art and science of project management with Shannon Keenan, co-founder and partner at ArtemisFactor.com. Shannon, with over 25 years of expertise in the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors, shares her profound insights into how project managers can navigate the complexities of their field. From managing scope creep and overwhelming communication to mitigating risks and leading people through change, this conversation sheds light on the practical realities of managing projects in today's dynamic environments.

Shannon emphasizes the importance of flexibility and innovation, particularly in highly regulated and global industries like pharma and biotech. She discusses the challenges of large-scale projects involving hundreds of stakeholders across multiple business areas. This episode delivers critical insights and actionable lessons on using Agile and Waterfall methodologies effectively while keeping the human element at the forefront to ensure project success. Shannon also highlights the significance of tailoring communication strategies to meet the needs of different stakeholders, avoiding the pitfalls of both over-communication and under-communication. This episode is a must-listen for project managers seeking to enhance their skills and drive successful outcomes in complex projects.

https://www.pm-podcast.com/503

Episode 503 of The Project Management Podcast brings you a special announcement. We've created a series of three exclusive video tutorials that dive into mastering a PMP exam simulator. Join us to discover how to effectively use quizzes, tackle full-length practice exams, and analyze your performance statistics to boost your chances of passing the PMP exam.

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In this episode, we explore the intersection of PMOs and the digital transformation era with Amireh Amirmazaheri, the managing director of PMO Solutions. Amireh shares her extensive experience in PMO frameworks and strategic growth, shedding light on how PMOs adapt to and drive digital change. We discuss the challenges PMOs face, their innovative strategies, and the importance of aligning digital transformation initiatives with strategic business objectives.

Amireh discusses the various aspects of digital transformation, including integrating technology, culture, and processes. She emphasizes the role of PMOs as strategic partners in organizations, highlighting their evolution from administrative units to key influencers in strategic decision-making. This episode features valuable insights and practical tips for PMO managers and executives looking to navigate the complexities of the digital age successfully.