Ever felt overwhelmed juggling project deadlines, stakeholder demands, and life’s curveballs? Leading Impactful Teams is a personal guide to achieving big project results without burning out. Since writing the book, it has resonated with thousands of people all over the worls so I’ve decided to give it away for free in podcast format (you can still buy the physical copy if you want to support me)
I share candid stories (like how a broken toilet seat and a stubborn headache led to my wake-up call) to illustrate that success shouldn’t come at the cost of your sanity. This book mixes humor, hard-earned lessons, and practical tips to help you lead projects in a human-centered way. Whether you’re a seasoned PM or accidentally in charge, you’ll learn to deliver value, build a thriving team, and actually enjoy the journey—no “crunch time” heroics required.
We’ve won some awards, and now work with big companies to help them acheive better outcomes with less stress on their teams - it’s good I promise!
Hopefully you've enjoyed listening as much as I enjoyed writing and reading the book. Let's connect on LinkedIn and continue the journey - there's loads more free content, and who knows maybe one day me and my team will be able to work with you and your team directly.
12 Apr 2025
Chapter 12: Conclusion – Projects can be better
Projects can be better. 3 Key Takeaways:
- Be transparent (share your plans and invite feedback),
- Be ruthless about priorities (focus on the “bare necessities”)
- and above all, put people first.
Even in an AI-driven age, human empathy and connection set great project leaders apart. You should feel inspired to lead your next project not just to deliver results, but to do it in a way that keeps you and your team happy and sane. Projects will always be challenging, but with a bit of humor and heart, it can also be deeply rewarding. Let’s make it better, together.
12 Apr 2025
Chapter 11: Cost – How to think about it, how to discuss it, and how to keep a lid on it
Money matters, and a great PM can save a fortune for the organisation. Sometimes that means bravely canceling a doomed project before it burns more cash. Usually, it’s about smaller wins: trimming waste by streamlining work and preventing expensive scope creep. you can cut costs in any scenario if you are skilled at talking about budget openly with the right people. Cost control is not boring bean-counting, it is a key way to deliver value and keep your project healthy.
12 Apr 2025
Chapter 10 Bonus - Training for your team and Stakeholders
If you like this stuff so far, you can run the book club for your stakeholders too. And get in touch with me and my team if you would like to learn more about it.
12 Apr 2025
Chapter 10: Stakeholders – Who they are and how to make sure they are on your side
Projects live or die by relationships, so you need to get stakeholders on your side. There are no “A***holes” in business, only people with different experiences, capabilities, stresses and styles than me (some of whom may appear to be a bit A***holish, even quite a lot of the time) — everyone has their reasons. Assume good intent and see the world from each stakeholder’s perspective (even the frustrating ones). Figure out who really has a stake in your project and then think about different ways to communicate, handle conflict, and turn difficult people into collaborators. Mastering this human element transforms stakeholder management from a headache into the heart of project leadership—because when people are with you, even big challenges get easier.
12 Apr 2025
Chapter 9 Bonus - The Book Club
Time to start using these approaches and talking about them with your team - Connect with me on LinkedIn and get the material to run a book club where you can start to spread and engage on these ideas with your team.
12 Apr 2025
Chapter 9: Team – Your most valuable resource
The heart of your project is your team. Even the best plan means nothing if your people are burnt out or disengaged.become a servant leader—make sure your team has what it needs, protect them from needless stress, and never ask them to “do whatever it takes”. Build a positive, sustainable team culture where work is actually enjoyable. From balancing workloads to ensuring everyone takes real breaks, taking care of your team isn’t just kind—it’s your secret weapon for low-drama, consistent success.
12 Apr 2025
Chapter 8: Quality – Not messing stuff up
Quality isn’t about perfection—it’s about balance. Deliver something great without chasing an impossible ideal (and driving your team crazy). My dad always said, “you can have it good, you can have it quick, you can have it cheap.... pick two.” Using this classic Iron Triangle, you'll be able to balance quality, time, and cost to meet your project’s real needs. Often, dialing quality up or down to save time or money is absolutely fine. The key is to make quality a conversation from the start. Define what “good enough” looks like for your users instead of blindly ticking every box. Focus on delivering that value, and you’ll hit the sweet spot where nothing important is messed up—and nobody burns out chasing unnecessarily flawless results.
12 Apr 2025
Chapter 7: Time – How to predict the future
“When will it be finished?” - the million-dollar question every project manager faces. Answer it without resorting to crystal-ball guesswork. The trick is to treat time, scope, and cost as a flexible trio. Involve stakeholders in timeline decisions—offering trade-offs so they own the schedule and aren’t blindsided by changes. A “failed” project is one that leaves stakeholders disappointed, so avoid that by ensuring what you deliver is truly what they need. Manage time this way and you’ll keep your project on track without those last-minute scrambles.
12 Apr 2025
Chapter 6: Risks (and Assumptions, Dependencies, and Issues) – Managing what could go wrong
"What ifs" haunt every project— but you can manage them before they turn into nightmares. Break down risks and their cousins: assumptions, dependencies, and issues, prioritise them and then manage them. Drop the rose-tinted glasses: not everyone is on the same page (sometimes they’re not even in the same book!). Learn to spot risks early, surface hidden assumptions, stay on top of external dependencies, and tackle issues head-on. The payoff? Fewer surprises, less panic, and a reputation as the project manager who steers everyone clear of disaster.
12 Apr 2025
Chapter 5: Scope and Prioritisation – Maximise the work that you don’t do!
This chapter is about the art of saying “no” (or “not yet”) so you can focus on what truly matters. Pinning down what’s in scope (and what isn’t) early can save everyone a world of pain. Projects often drown in wish-lists and shifting requirements, but you can prevent that chaos from the start. Bring clarity with simple tools like scope lists and negotiate changes without losing your cool. We also tackle prioritization: identify the highest-value work and happily delay or cut the rest. Sometimes doing less is the best way to succeed!
12 Apr 2025
Chapter 4: Approach – Some ideas on how to structure your project
Time to step back to consider how to structure your project. There’s no one-size-fits-all method—your approach should fit your organization, your team, and your goals. Whether you’re bound by a strict corporate process or winging it at a startup, you'll have to make the system work for you. The key is flexibility: use methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, Lean—take your pick) as tools, not straitjackets. Tweak whatever process you have by blending in a few “secret sauce” techniques. The result? A project approach that keeps stakeholders happy and your team productive—without driving you crazy.
12 Apr 2025
Chapter 3 - Techniques & Tips - It's easy if you know how!
With your new lenses, Chapter 3 gives you some tools to tackle whatever they reveal. Project management is a juggling act, so here are some tricks of the trade to make it all manageable (even easy, once you know how). From running effective meetings to calming an angry stakeholder, these are simple techniques I’ve picked up over the years. No two hours of a PM’s day are the same—one minute you’re in a spreadsheet, the next you’re coaching a teammate—so these tips help you switch gears smoothly. You’ll be ready to handle each challenge with confidence, agility, and maybe even a smile.
12 Apr 2025
Chapter 2 - The Lenses - How to think like an expert
Simplifying any project down into the eight “lenses” that cover every aspect of a project. These key perspectives help you know where to look and what to watch for. Experience is valuable, but you don’t have to learn every lesson the hard way. By consciously checking your project through each lens, you’ll start to anticipate problems, focus your energy where it matters most, and develop that expert instinct—without spending decades to get it.
12 Apr 2025
Chapter 1 - We all Manage Projects
We all manage projects, whether it’s a family vacation or a corporate launch—yet few get real training. Project management is evolving from rigid plans and bureaucracy to flexible, people-first practices. Modern “power skills” like empathy, adaptability, and collaboration are replacing old-school command-and-control. Following a plan just because it’s “the plan” is out, and guiding a team toward true goals is in. You really can reduce stress, improve results, and maybe even have fun in the process.
12 Apr 2025
Introduction - How Not to do it!
I tried to do everything: lead a high-stakes project, look after my team, boost my career with extra work, raise three young kids—and a cracked toilet seat finally broke me. This perfect storm of stress led to a collapse and a pretty explosive life moment. It’s a raw, eye-opening tale of what happens when you push yourself too far and explains why I care so much about the need a saner, more sustainable way to manage projects (and life) before we hit our breaking point.
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