Certification Insider

Episode Summary

Many professionals manage projects every day without holding an official project manager title. This conversation highlights why so many individuals lead crucial initiatives by accident and how they can succeed even without formal authority. Guest expert Kory Kogon brings extensive experience in helping people adopt practical leadership approaches, emphasizing the idea that a project’s success hinges on building trust, clarifying expectations, and fostering genuine engagement among team members.

During this discussion, host Cornelius Fichtner and Kory address the 65% project failure rate, revealing how it often stems from unclear goals, weak communication, and a lack of shared vision. They introduce actionable strategies to ensure that projects deliver real value, whether working in a traditional environment or using agile-inspired methods. Listeners learn the importance of combining solid processes with thoughtful leadership, from setting clear success measures to guiding a team’s enthusiasm. By focusing on people over process and recognizing that most of today’s workforce serves as “knowledge workers,” this episode shows how everyone can volunteer their best efforts when they feel heard, respected, and trusted.

(This interview was originally published on The Project Management Podcast.)

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.

We start by defining the fundamental responsibilities every project manager must master: planning, resource allocation, stakeholder communication, and issue resolution. Next, we compare the responsibilities of junior and senior project managers, illustrating how expertise grows over time. Whether you’re new to project management or looking to refine your skills, this episode provides clear insights into how project managers drive success and ensure business objectives are met.

(This interview was originally published on The Project Management Podcast.)

Episode Summary

Cornelius Fichtner provides a clear and focused overview of the role of a project manager and the profound impact these professionals have on organizational success. He explains how project managers coordinate tasks, motivate teams, and deliver results while balancing risk, scope, and stakeholder needs. Project managers create an environment where projects can flourish and meet their goals by defining objectives, procuring resources, managing constraints, ensuring quality, and tailoring processes.

He underscores the massive demand for project managers, referencing data from PMI, APM, and IPMA demonstrating the significant economic contribution and rising need for skilled professionals. This growing demand highlights how organizations depend on effective project management to adapt, remain competitive, and deliver strategic outcomes. Cornelius emphasizes that a well-structured approach—alongside strong leadership and communication—makes all the difference when navigating complex initiatives.

(This interview was originally published on The Project Management Podcast.)

Episode Summary

Project management stands at the heart of many successful initiatives, providing the structure and guiding principles needed to achieve meaningful outcomes. Cornelius Fichtner, PMP, draws from extensive industry experience to explain how a clear strategy, effective collaboration, and continuous improvement can empower professionals to meet and exceed project objectives. He emphasizes that every project benefits from a well-defined scope, an appropriate methodology, and ongoing risk management, allowing teams to navigate challenges without losing sight of key goals.

During this discussion, Cornelius highlights how adopting a structured framework can strengthen accountability and streamline communication. He details the benefits of consistent quality oversight, which encourages stakeholders to stay aligned with expectations and maintain a strong focus on delivering value. Throughout the session, he also addresses how project leaders can choose from multiple approaches—whether agile, predictive, or hybrid—to match their unique organizational culture. Each strategy comes with its own advantages, but all are designed to support cohesive teamwork and measurable progress. By applying the insights shared here, anyone looking to improve their project management skills can start building more efficient processes and delivering successful outcomes across various industries.

(This interview was originally published on The Project Management Podcast.)

Episode Summary

(See the "Resources" section below to download the handout with the "Three Top Dependency Management Mistakes and How to Avoid Them".)

Dependency management is a crucial yet often overlooked aspect of project success. In this episode, Bryan Barrow, author of Dependency Management, shares his expertise on how project managers can effectively navigate and manage dependencies to ensure timely and efficient project delivery. With decades of experience in helping organizations tackle complex projects, Bryan emphasizes the importance of communication, collaboration, and proactive planning.

The discussion highlights common pitfalls in dependency management, such as failing to identify all dependencies, inadequate communication with stakeholders, and lack of accountability. Bryan offers actionable advice to avoid these mistakes, including practical steps to identify, validate, and monitor dependencies. He also introduces his six-step framework—Identify, Agree, Plan, Validate, Monitor, and Communicate—to streamline the process. Throughout the episode, Bryan shares insightful analogies and real-world examples, making these strategies relatable and actionable for project managers at all levels.

(This interview was originally published on The Project Management Podcast.)