Great Practices Podcast

In this episode of Great Practices, I’m talking with Quyen Clifton, a consummate HR professional with nearly three decades of Human Resources experience as well as being one of the owners of bhravo, an HR Consulting firm. Quyen is going to be discussing the difference between a contractor and employee, the pros and cons of each, and a couple of rules of thumb you can use to determine how much to pay, or even when to use, a contractor in your PMO or on projects.

Plus, find out why independence is no joke when it comes to Independent Contractors and some common HR traps you can avoid.

In this episode of Great Practices, I’m talking with Bill VanCuren, a highly experienced executive, technology advisor, and former EVP and CIO for NCR Corporation. Bill is going to be discussing the pros and cons of agile vs. waterfall and the benefits of moving towards a more product-centric model. You’ll find out the steps necessary to move from Agile to Product methodologies, some common mistakes that are made (and how to overcome them) as well as an idea of how long such a transition will take.

Plus, find out about Bill’s non-AI generated Technology Leadership Playbook courses and how you can make the most of implementing a product-centric model in your organization.

In this episode of Great Practices, I’m talking with Lisa Godwin, global HR and employee relations leader and owner of Powerhouse HR Consulting. Lisa is going to apply her extensive Human Resource and Employee Relations experience to PMOs and Project Managers and discuss the importance of managing conflict within teams, the GROW model for resolving disputes, and great practices for setting expectations and ways you can make sure once conflict is resolved it doesn’t rear its ugly head again.

Plus, find out how by doing ER right (employee relations), you can avoid a trip to the ER (emergency room!) and how laying the proper groundwork up front for conflict resolution will make your life so much easier as a project leader.

In this episode of Great Practices, I’m talking with Melissa Fink, owner of Franchise Marketing Network. Franchise Marketing Network, you may ask. Yes. Melissa is going to apply her decades of marketing experience to the project management industry and discuss the importance of personal marketing for PMO professionals, 4 strategies you can start using today to keep you top of mind with your stakeholders and potential employers, and what potential mistakes you can avoid.

Plus, find out what your grandmother has to do with the content you post, and how doing something uncomfortable (like marketing yourself) becomes easier the more you do it.

In this episode of Great Practices, I’m talking with Nicole Pietrangelo, a project management consultant who specializes on translating complex business needs and project management methodologies into seamless technological solutions. Listen in as Nicole talks about the differences between Project Management and PPM tools, the symptoms that you need one or the other, and the process for choosing the right tool (hint: it starts with just one question). Nicole also covers the non-negotiables and nice-to-haves when it comes to features and helps us avoid the common mistakes she’s seen over the years.

Plus, we’ll put to rest the age-old question “Is Excel a real project management tool?”

In this episode of Great Practices, I’m talking with Bill Clark, Senior Business Intelligence Analyst and avid data analysis practitioner. Listen in as Bill talks about his definition of a dashboard, what must be on every dashboard, how to start the process of putting a dashboard together, and what pitfalls you need to make sure to avoid. Bill also uncovers some simple methods to determine if your dashboard is doing the trick (or not)

Plus, you’ll discover what Sesame Street has to do with your dashboard is laid out…and, he introduces the concept of a data ink ratio. Do you know what yours is?

In this episode of Great Practices, I’m talking with Tom Clement, Global Vice President of Sales with OpenText. Listen in as our first repeat guest (back by popular demand, of course) talks about how the Internet of Things (or IOT) projects are transforming the Project Management and PMO landscape. You’ll discover how companies are implementing and benefitting from IoT projects, the challenges it brings to the PMO and project management profession, and 4 areas you need to make sure you are proficient in to successfully ride this wave.

Plus, uncover the one skill you need as a Project Manager or PMO Leader to ensure you can successfully ride this next wave of projects without falling off the board and getting washed out.

In this episode of Great Practices, I’m talking with Melvin Phan, the Founder and CEO of JJPH – a Program and Project Management Service Company in Sydney, Australia. Listen in as Melvin talks about how to recover distressed projects. Learn some of the signs and symptoms of projects that are in  trouble…before it’s too late. And, if it is too late, you’ll also discover how to get projects back on track by creating quick wins and rebuilding trust.

Plus, find out what canaries and coalmines have to do with troubled projects, as well as a harrowing story of how Melvin and his family ended up in Australia from Vietnam. 

In this episode of Great Practices, I’m talking with Neha Shingane, a Social Impact consultant who is passionate about inclusion and storytelling. Today, we’re going to focus on the storytelling side of things and how this can be applied in a PMO and Project Management environment. We’ll find out what a story is, and what it’s not, and why it’s more important than ever to be able to tell stories effectively. Neha als discusses different scenarios where stories can be used, the steps necessary to put an effective story together and what traps to avoid.

Plus, find out the meaning of a cool new world (the word is miasma) and how this fits perfectly into the need to tell great stories.

In this episode of Great Practices, I’m talking with Mark Wyssbrod, CPA turned principal NetSuite Consultant about the symptoms, challenges, and successes of making a change if you feel like you’re stuck in a rut. Learn the startling statistics of how many people like (or don’t like) their jobs, an equation of professional happiness he’s calculated out over the years, and why you’ll never be starting from scratch if you decide to do something new.

Plus, find out what the entrepreneurial spirit has to do with navigating change and transition and how choosing between red and blue will produce…green.

In this episode of Great Practices, I’m talking with Rich Maltzman and Jim Stewart, co-authors of the book Great Meetings Build Great Teams. We’ll discuss why meetings are such an important part of building a strong project team, the benefits of doing them well and the consequences of doing them poorly. You’ll also find out what Kano Design Theory (very interesting, by the way) has to do with people expecting more and more out of your meetings and what you can make sure to deliver.

Plus, find out what it means to be “large and in charge” and understand what poor driving habits have to do with understanding bad behaviors in meetings.

In this episode of Great Practices, I’m talking with Colleen Romero Vice President of Marketing and eCommerce at Healthway. Listen in as Colleen discusses what culture is and tell-tale signs to look for if your project teams have a culture that is healthy or toxic. We discuss stops steps you can take to fix a toxic environment, and better yet, how you can prevent a toxic environment from happening in the first place. Hint: it’s something you do before you even hire someone.

Plus, you’ll learn the rules to a not-so-fun game called Defect Round Robin and the difference between your wise mind and your emotional mind.

In this episode of Great Practices, I’m talking with Paul Terlemezian, Founder of Georgia Learns Now, LLC and a business consultant that identifies and solves real problems that plague businesses today. Listen in as Paul discusses the challenges of project teams working together (especially when their members have different opinions), his slingshot theory on how to accelerate project team growth, why it’s better to ask for forgiveness than permission when implementing this approach, and the importance of being a good listener, and learner.

Plus, discover which two doors are available to you as a PMO Leader and which of the two you should choose every single time!

In this episode of Great Practices, I’m talking with Jerry Sutton, Director of Learning & Organizational Development at Bobby Dodd Institute about ways you can expand your talent pool. Find out how the Bobby Dodd Institute certification program has allowed disabled people to find employment in the technical Industry, how businesses and employees have benefited and where you can find local resources where you live.

Plus, this is kind of like listening to an episode of Myth Busters as Jerry uncovers and debunks 3 common myths about hiring disabled people.

In this episode of Great Practices, I’m talking with Jen Gordon, a User Design and User Journey expert about how to get the necessary approvals on your projects to keep things moving forward. Find out the challenges that come with receiving approvals in highly regulated industries and how understanding people, process, and technology will make the experience easier for everybody.

Plus, you’ll find out why there’s no shortcuts to building good ol’ relationships, and why writing a ransom note every now and then may be a good thing. 

In this episode of Great Practices, I’m talking with Jerad Martin, Owner of PDC Homebuyers. Find out how this business owner / construction project manager is able to balance resources with project workload, has learned the importance of saying no, and one great practice on how he vets out people that work for him.

Plus, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to hear that there is such a thing as a free lunch if you work for Jerad, and find out how viewing yourself as an orchestra conductor will keep everyone on the same sheet of music.

In this episode of great practices. I'm talking with Dan Huber, an experienced practice manager with a history of working in the software industry for decades. Listen in as Dan talks about his recent passion, artificial intelligence. You'll get a better understanding of what AI is that you've probably been using it longer than you think. The pros and cons of AI and what you can do now as a project manager to use this new and exciting tool.

Plus, we'll discuss the age-old question is technology going to take my project management job and why AI has a bit further to go before it starts knocking on your office door.

In this episode of Great Practices, I’m talking with Tim Sweet, Founder and Principal of Team Work Excellence (TWE). Tim is a leadership advisor with over 25 years of experience in operations management, process improvement, business process reengineering, and risk reduction. Listen in to this episode as Tim talks about the importance of alignment, walks us through his 6-Point-Framework for Team Effectiveness, and shares insights into how to keep your team on the same page.

Plus, you’ll find out why you don’t want to just be a baton-tosser when it comes to project work,  and learn a new word for risk (spoiler alert: the word is FEAR – which is exactly how we should feel unless we have a good plan in place – which Tim can help you do!)

In this episode of Great Practices, I’m talking with Tom Clement, Global VP of Sales at OpenText with over 25 years of experience in selling and delivering technical projects. Listen in to this episode as Tom discusses the what and why of technology project investments, the best time for a project manager to be  assigned to a project, the top 3 challenges (and solutions) he has seen when it comes to managing large enterprise-wide projects, and the reason why (and solutions again) customer and vendor project managers may undermine each other’s work.

Plus, you’ll hear a couple of war stories about major surprises on projects and Tom’s inspirational words about leadership that were so inspirational, he even inspired himself!

In this episode of Great Practices, I’m talking with Troy Robinson, Sr. Director of Engineering with over 25 years of experience in software development. Listen in to this episode as Troy discusses the difference between Waterfall and Agile development methods, how the Scaled Agile Framework (or SAFE) fits into these models, and what PMOs and Project Managers can do to help, or hurt, projects they manage in either of these methodologies.

Plus, you’ll find out why “It Depends” is an answer you’ll need to get used to when it comes to picking the best methodology, and ultimately what all successful projects are built upon.

In this episode of Great Practices, I’m talking with Chris Carter, Chief Engineer and Executive GM at Toyota North America by day and Academic Program Director at Georgia Tech by night. Listen in to this episode as Chris discusses the history of the Project Management Certificate Program at Georgia Tech, how it’s been recently revamped to include experiential learning with modular design (don’t worry, he’ll make this easy to understand), who the program is perfect for and where you can find more information.

Plus, find out what chicken nuggets and dipping sauce have to do with teaching project management.

In this episode of Great Practices, I’m talking with Dr. Michael Woodard, Learning & Talent Development Thought Leader, Adjunct Professor at William Woods University, Author, Speaker, and an all-around nice guy. Listen in to this episode to get Dr. Mike’s take on why training is so important for PMO Leaders, a framework you can follow to make sure your project managers know what they are doing, and three training traps to avoid.

Plus, find out why it’s so important to lead with inquiry and how adopting this one behavior can make a big difference in your PMO journey.

In this episode of Great Practices, I’m talking with PMO Joe, Joe Pusz, Founder of The PMO Squad and The PMO Leader. Listen in to this episode to get PMO Joe’s assessment of the current state of PMOs (you’re going to be shocked by the dismal statistics), why PMOs are in such a bad state, and what you can do as a PMO Leader to make 2023 a Transformative year instead of just a Transitional year.

Plus, find out why Joe thinks PMO should stand for Pizza Management Office and why everyone should be asking how their projects taste!

In this episode of Great Practices, I’m talking with Anna Morgan, recruiter by day and job search strategist by night. Listen in to this episode to get a recruiters view of the PMO and Project Management job prospects, what you can do to find a new position e (hint, it starts way before putting your resume together), what you should never do when looking for a job, and how to make the most of phone and virtual interviews. You’ll also learn the relationship between your LinkedIn profile and your resume and that it’s got to be more than just copy / paste.

Plus, find out how Anna came up with #careerbff tag and learn how she became a rescuer of both dogs and careers!

In this episode of Great Practices, I’m talking with Eric Jones, owner of Coffee Cup Coaching, a coaching firm that helps people to pursue their passions, live their potential, and stop struggling in life and careers. Listen in to find out the difference between a coach and a mentor and signs that you may need a coach. Plus, you’ll learn the best way to find a coach as well as the positive qualities you’ll want to make sure they have as well as the negative qualities you’ll want to make sure to avoid.

Plus, get Eric’s take on the Quiet Quitting movement and why it’s better to work loudly rather than quit quietly!

In this episode of Great Practices, I’m talking with Mark Burnett, owner of ECONO-Project EX, a firm that helps deliver complex project with confidence. Hailing from Kingston, Jamaica, listen is as this son of the Caribbean talks about the challenges of delivering projects across 19 countries! We discuss why all projects should be given the proper respect, how standardization is the key to successful project delivery, and how Mark gets up to speed in new situations quickly.

Plus, you’ll find out which islands are the easiest and which ones are most challenging when it comes to project delivery.

In this episode of Great Practices, I’m talking with Amanda Sutt, CEO and Creative Director of the Branding and Marketing Firm called Rock Paper Scissors. Listen in as we discuss how to manage projects and creative people when things aren’t always black and white, learn her secret to increasing the capacity of her team by up to 50%, and how putting just the right frameworks in place unleash her teams creativity.

Plus, discover what a secret staircase in the back of her house has to do with their company name and why the name of her team on Trivia Night is “I’ll Know It When I See It”!

In this episode of Great Practices, I’m talking with Janet Thomas, VP of Human Resources at Mueller Water Products about what makes for a great Employee Experience. Listen in as we discuss the effect rampant turnover has on managers and teams, understanding regrettable vs. non-regrettable turnover, and some questions to ask during a “Stay Interview” to make sure you are retaining top talent.

Plus, find out how to use the Skill or Will test to troubleshoot issues with employees who may have previously been top performers.

In this episode of Great Practices, listen in as Troy Felder, Regional Senior HR Business Partner for McKesson, provides a great definition of Talent Development, discusses the 3 Es of how people grow, explains how to keep your PMO team aligned on the Talent Development journey, and a couple of Talent Development traps and pitfalls you’ll want to avoid.

Plus, find out if you deserve to be in the “frequent traveler” line when it comes to your PMO career!

In this episode of Great Practices, I’m talking with Rob Milstead, a well-versed IT Leader about how much time you should spend preparing for meetings with Executives, a framework that will make every meeting effective, as well as how a small shift in attitude will move your PMO from a group of task administrators to a group of value deliverers.

Plus, see how close Rob got to an interpretive dance before we realized it was an audio podcast!

Find out what the typical day of a salesperson looks like, the best time for a project manager to get involved in a project, what project managers do that help (or hurt) a deal, and discover the secret to creating a great working relationship with customers and salespeople alike.

Plus, listen in as our guest Sal DeMarco attempts to hijack the podcast and make it his own! 

In this episode of Great Practices, we’ll be talking with Larry Mohl, Founder and Chief Transformation Officer of Rali, a company that helps shift mindsets and behaviors around initiatives that matter. Since your PMO manages initiatives that matter, tune in to find out the 4 Change Ability factors that should be included in your projects, how to transition Change Management from an individual sport to a team sport, as well as learn a very succinct definition of what a PMO does.

Plus, you’ll find out what you can do to avoid the valley of despair and stay away from the dreaded “spray and pray” approach of change management.

In this episode of Great Practices, we’ll learn about some of the Worst Practices people have done over the years when it comes to managing their email. Warning: You may be guilty of one or two yourself!  We’ll uncover the four fundamentals of good email management including 1) Having an Easy to Understand Filing System 2) Utilizing a Good Process 3) Using Tasks (and not Your Inbox) to Manage your Day and 4) Understanding the Email Tools You’ve Been Given.

Plus, we’ll learn what Parades, Big Bird, and Sesame Street have to do with getting control of your email!

Is your PMO stuck in the 90s? It may be if all you do is provide Templates and Processes and focus exclusively on IT projects. In this episode of Great Practices, Paul Williams will be discussing the Next Generation PMO that gets you a seat at the adult table. You will learn how to set up a Strategic Planning Team that works on projects beyond IT, what to include (and not include) on the Monthly Agenda, what KPIs really matter, and the best time to assign a Project Manager to a new project.

So, slide over Grandma…the Next Generation PMO is grabbing that seat right next to you!

In this episode of Great Practices, we’ll learn about a 4-step process to determine the services your  PMO will offer, talk about the different types of PMOs, how to map people to the various roles needed to make a PMO successful, as well as get the word out that your PMO is open for business.

Plus, we’ll find out a way to extend the shelf-life of a PMO so it doesn’t begin to stink after 2-3 years.

Virtual Meetings are here to stay, and that’s not a bad thing if they’re done in the right way. Henry Liebling, owner of lessdriving.org and author of the book “Skills Training for Online Virtual Meetings: How to Achieve Virtual Meeting Effectiveness” discusses what you can do before, during, and after your virtual meetings, the roles needed to make a meeting successful, and a process for converting real world meetings into digital sessions. Hint: You can convert just about everything except for the coffee and donuts.

In this episode of Great Practices, we’re talking with Ruth Pearce, owner of Alle, LLC and author of the book “Be a Project Motivator: Unlock the Secrets of Strengths Based Project Management”. Listen in as we discuss why it’s better to build on strengths rather than focus on weaknesses of those on your team, what can be done to shore up any weaknesses that may crop up, and how to transform your PMO from an ‘obstacle to everything” to a “solution for everything”. oes here

Does everyone come to you with every-single-little-question about your projects? Find out what you may be doing to encourage this bad habit as Bryan Garner, Director of Content Strategy with White Deer Group, discusses how the PMO is a content practice. You’ll learn the challenges associated with PMO content, the Rule of Thirds when it comes to managing Content deliverables, and ways you can combat accuracy erosion.

The debate is as old as “Microsoft or Apple” and “Coke or Pepsi”. What’s better? Reports or Dashboards? Listen in as Joe Sisto, PMO Director of Randstad North America extols the virtues of one and questions the value of the other. Learn some great practices around how to control report proliferation, what must be on a Dashboard, and how to kill off reports (kind of gives away the answer to the Reports or Dashboards question, doesn’t it?)