The Project Management Podcast

Cornelius Fichtner
  • 4.2 (328)
  • CAREERS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY
The Project Management Podcast
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Become the project manager everyone wants on their team. Tune in to The Project Management Podcast™ and join Cornelius Fichtner, PMP, CSM, as he interviews global PM experts to uncover what drives their project success. Subscribe at https://www.pm-podcast.com and get actionable advice you can apply today. Each episode is packed with hands-on tips for beginners and experts to help you integrate good practices and the latest insights to lead your projects more effectively.

  1. APR 11 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    Episode 523: Lead with Confidence (Premium)

    Play Video: https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/leadership-academy.prepcastmedia.com/01-interviews/LA_01.00_Stanley_McChrystal.mp4 Leadership in complex environments requires a clear focus on practical methods, teamwork, and risk mitigation. Retired General Stan McChrystal joins the discussion to share proven approaches for navigating high-stakes situations. He draws on his experience as a former commander who led large-scale military operations around the globe. His insights emphasize that genuine leadership combines strategic planning with a profound understanding of your team’s capabilities, motivations, and communication needs. This conversation spotlights risk as a factor that cannot be entirely predicted or avoided, but it can be managed through intentional action. McChrystal explains how organizations function much like a risk immune system, where ten crucial factors—ranging from technology and diversity to structure and bias—work together to keep threats in check. By recognizing vulnerabilities early, leaders mobilize teams to adapt and respond effectively. Clear messaging, a consistent sense of mission, and an environment of mutual trust emerge as central themes. These elements unify teams, promote accountability, and ensure that everyone remains aligned on project goals. McChrystal’s practical examples illustrate how leaders break down silos, create open channels of communication, and empower people at every level to act on risk. His perspective offers project managers and business professionals tactical steps for transforming teams into cohesive units ready to handle fast-changing circumstances. In This Episode, You Will Learn: How to build an organizational “risk immune system” that manages threats proactively Why strong team communication and alignment matter more than detailed calculations Ways to use leadership as the catalyst for influencing company culture and decision-making Quotes from This Episode "Risk is about vulnerabilities you can control, not just threats you can predict." – Stan McChrystal "Leaders create the context so everyone in the organization can see where they fit and contribute." – Stan McChrystal Connect with Stan McChrystal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stanmcchrystal/ Website: https://www.mcchrystalgroup.com/ Time-Stamped Show Notes [00:14] – Introduction to key leadership themes and objectives [01:49] – Guest background: military career and transition to advising executives [09:30] – Overview of the 10 factors forming an organizational risk immune system [22:01] – Balancing initiative with broader strategic alignment [38:14] – Ensuring communication flows across silos and ranks [45:07] – Practical techniques to test assumptions and address gaps in planning [57:04] – Building cohesive teams by reinforcing trust and shared objectives Exclusive Benefit for our Premium Subscribers - Download the members-only transcript: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/pmpodcast/LA_01.00_Stanley_McChrystal.pdf

    1h 11m

  2. APR 11 · VIDEO

    Episode 523: Lead with Confidence (Premium Preview)

    Premium This is a preview of our premium episode. Full access is available only to premium subscribers. Click here and learn about the Premium Podcast to access this interview and transcript... Play video preview episode | Play audio-only preview episode | Play on YouTube Click above to play either the audio-only preview episode or video preview episode in a new window. Episode Summary Leadership in complex environments requires a clear focus on practical methods, teamwork, and risk mitigation. Retired General Stan McChrystal joins the discussion to share proven approaches for navigating high-stakes situations. He draws on his experience as a former commander who led large-scale military operations around the globe. His insights emphasize that genuine leadership combines strategic planning with a profound understanding of your team’s capabilities, motivations, and communication needs.

  3. Exclusive $66 Discount Coupon for our Premium Subscribers (April-June)

    APR 4 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    Exclusive $66 Discount Coupon for our Premium Subscribers (April-June)

    Play Video: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/pmpodcast/PM_Podcast_2025_04_04_pducast_coupon.mp4 This discount coupon is for premium podcast subscribers only: Until 2025-Jun-30 you can buy "The PDU Podcast - 60 PDU Bundle" with a $66 discount: Step 1: Visit www.pm-podcast.com/pducast Step 2: Click "Proceed to Checkout" and complete the purchase. Not the coupon you wanted? Cast your vote at www.pm-podcast.com/survey

    3 min

  4. MAR 27 • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    Episode 148.4: Risk Management - Critical Success Factor for your Project - Part 4

    Play YouTube: https://youtu.be/aDsaUyvRfU4?si=OPIPs5E22LQRM6Ne Part 4. This episode of The PM Podcast is a 4-part webinar presented by Andreas Heilwagen on the topic of risk management. Each part of this webinar is looking at risk management critical success factors. Andreas says that the effective management of project risk is a critical success factor, and I can see why. We look at a definition of Risk Management, present the value that it offers to your projects, go through the processes offered by The PMBOK® Guide, take a look at the free risk management templates [Update: the template website is no longer available, so we removed the link] offered by Andreas and the look into the success factors that will make your internal risk management approach a winning activity. Agile project risk management isn't something we go deep into specifically, but risk management is a universal concept. You will be able to take the ideas here and apply them to your agile team environment, if you are using agile methods. Exclusive Benefit for our Premium Subscribers - Download the members-only transcript: https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/pmpodcast/PM_Podcast_-_Episode_148.4_FREE_-_Transcript.pdf

    16 min

  5. MAR 26 · VIDEO

    Episode 522: What is Leadership? (Free)

    PM Basics This episode is part of our Project Management Basics series, where we review the core principles of effective project management. Play video episode | Play audio-only episode | Play on YouTube Click above to play either the audio-only episode or video episode in a new window. Episode Summary Leadership is more than just managing tasks—it’s about inspiring teams, fostering collaboration, and guiding change. In this episode, we break down what true leadership means in a project management context and beyond. Whether you're leading a small initiative or a large-scale transformation, understanding leadership principles can significantly impact your success.

  6. MAR 19 · VIDEO

    Episode 521: How to Get PMP Certified (Free)

    Play video episode | Play audio-only episode | Play on YouTube Click above to play either the audio-only episode or video episode in a new window. Episode Summary Preparing for the PMP exam can feel overwhelming, but the right strategy and mindset make all the difference. In this episode, recent test-taker and now PMP-certified professional Rich Rushlow shares his journey to certification, offering firsthand insights into the study materials, resources, and techniques that worked best for him.

  7. MAR 12 · VIDEO

    Episode 520: What Does a Project Manager Do? (Free)

    PM Basics This episode is part of our Project Management Basics series, where we review the core principles of effective project management. Play video episode | Play audio-only episode | Play on YouTube Click above to play either the audio-only episode or video episode in a new window. Episode Summary Project managers play a pivotal role in turning strategy into execution, but what exactly do they do daily? From ensuring teams stay aligned to mitigating risks and keeping projects on schedule, their responsibilities are both broad and essential. This episode breaks down the core tasks defining a project manager's daily work and explores how their roles evolve from junior to senior levels.

  8. Progress Report: The PM Podcast Premium on Apple Podcasts

    MAR 11

    Progress Report: The PM Podcast Premium on Apple Podcasts

    For PM Podcast Premium details, visit https://www.pm-podcast.com/premium We’ve finalized our review of Episodes 370 through the latest, which are now ready for our premium subscribers on Apple Podcasts. We’ll continue adding earlier episodes one at a time, aiming to finish by mid-to-late June.

    2 min
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    4.2
    out of 5
    328 Ratings

    About

    Become the project manager everyone wants on their team. Tune in to The Project Management Podcast™ and join Cornelius Fichtner, PMP, CSM, as he interviews global PM experts to uncover what drives their project success. Subscribe at https://www.pm-podcast.com and get actionable advice you can apply today. Each episode is packed with hands-on tips for beginners and experts to help you integrate good practices and the latest insights to lead your projects more effectively.

    Information

    • Creator
      Cornelius Fichtner
    • Years Active
      2005 - 2025
    • Episodes
      503
    • Rating
      Clean
    • Copyright
      © Copyright (c) 2005-2025 by Cornelius Fichtner. All Rights Reserved.
    • Show Website
      The Project Management Podcast
    • Provider
      Cornelius Fichtner

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