My LinkedIn posts are 100% organic and AI-free. I write because I like to.The career stuff: 14 years in project leadership roles, 10 years in technical program management and 3 years managing people. I solve complex challenges up, down, and across the org by specializing in infrastructure, platforms, and people.

Matt McDannel

Andy Kaufman

𝘈𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥-𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱 𝘒𝘦𝘺𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘴 & 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘨𝘰, 𝘕𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘈𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢, & 𝘈𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥. 

𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼! Most people know me as a keynote speaker, podcast host, and author focused on project management and leadership practices that actually work in the real world.

As President of the Institute for Leadership Excellence & Development Inc., I lead a team that equips professionals at every level with the practical tools to lead people and deliver projects with confidence. From new managers to seasoned executives, we work with organizations around the world to help their people grow, not just in knowledge, but in influence and impact.

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of delivering keynotes and workshops to hundreds of thousands of people across six continents. Whether it's a corporate training initiative, an association meeting, or a leadership retreat, our focus is consistent: helping people develop the skills to successfully manage projects and lead teams with confidence.

Along the way, I’ve written three books:
📘 Navigating the Winds of Change: Staying on Course in Business & in Life
📘 Shining the Light on The Secret
📘 How to Organize Your Inbox & Get Rid of E-Mail Clutter

All published by Zurich Press, these resources reflect our belief that practical insights, grounded in values, can lead to lasting change.

I have PMP® and PMI-ACP® certifications, and am a long-time member of the Project Management Institute. I’ve helped thousands earn their certifications, and many more learn how to lead projects, regardless of their title.

One of the great joys of my work is hosting the People and Projects Podcast (🎙️ PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com), a Top 50 All-Time Management Podcast. In each episode, I interview leading voices in business and leadership to bring fresh insights to our global audience. 

👉 Meeting planners, if you're looking for an engaging speaker who brings both insight and energy, visit i-leadonline.com/meeting-planners to start a conversation.

Specialties: KEYWORDS: Project management, keynote speaker, leadership, leadership keynotes, project management training in Chicago and around the world, international keynote speaker, conflict management, risk management, team-building, meeting facilitation, Christian, retrospectives (Post-Mortems, Lessons Learned, Key Learnings)

Host

Succeeding in business often comes down to your ability to lead people and deliver results. Anyone can talk a good game. But at the end of the day you have to deliver. Rarely can you do that on your own, which is why we must excel at leading people.

Welcome to the People and Projects Podcast where we provide interviews and insights to help you lead people and deliver projects. This podcast focuses on the intersection of People and Projects--where work gets done in the real world. 

I have the privilege of helping organizations around the world who want to improve their ability to deliver projects and lead teams. I have worked with people from organizations across industries and cultures, helping them deliver their projects, become more confident leaders, take focused action, and achieve results. 

Join me as I interview leading thinkers and practitioners from around the world on subjects related to project management and leadership. You'll hear from experts such as Adam Grant, Robert Cialdini, Dan Pink, Roger L. Martin, Amy Cuddy, Daniel Shapiro, John Kotter, Jim Kouzes, Michael Bungay Stanier, Jeffrey Pfeffer, Morten T. Hansen, and more.

Podcasts are a great resource to pour into your personal development (and earning PDUs if you hold a project management certification from PMI). And you can't beat the price (free!). You are invited to listen to each episode on your favorite app or on the web (https://PeopleAndProjectsPodcast.com). 

Please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions or comments!

Me, when I was thinking about going on a walk in Chicago this morning . 🤣🥶❄️

(Video from Nature Is Amazing, on X)

Project Management & Leadership Keynote Speaker | Host of the People and Projects Podcast 🎙️ | Helping you lead & deliver projects with confidence | #ProjectManagement #Leadership #PMP

A good leader should be a lighthouse, not a disco ball.

That's a metaphor shared during my interview with Joel Hilchey in episode 488.

Teams do not need constant novelty or shifting priorities. They need clarity, consistency, and a steady signal about what matters most.

Leadership does require adaptability.
But too much inconsistency creates anxiety and wasted effort.

Ever worked for a disco ball? :)  What was it like?

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"The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people." Theodore Roosevelt

Here are some things I've learned about getting along with people:

✔️ Put far more focus on being interested instead of interesting. Learning to be curious about people, ask them questions, and stay present are all examples of abilities that are rare and powerful.

✔️ You don't have to agree with them. In fact, learning to get along with people you DON'T agree with is especially valuable these days!

✔️ Everyone's behavior is rational to them. Stay open-minded to the fact that there's more going on in a situation than we realize. Avoid the BSL narrative (they're Bad, Stupid, or Lazy)!

✔️ Respect is the universal currency. It's OK to have vigorous disagreement, but never go over the line of respect. Pro tip: you can communicate disrespect more easily with body language and vocal tone that we might realize.

👉👉 What's one bit of advice you'd share with someone new in their career about how to get along with people (even those they don't agree with)?

👇👇 Share your insights in the comments below. Thanks!

My friend and colleague Lee Lambert is a glowing example of someone who has lived out this principle for decades. Lee joined the People and Projects Podcast to talk about his insights for leading and delivering. Queue up episode 253 for an entertaining discussion with a pro who is a walking billboard for Teddy's quote.

I've heard so many capable PM's quietly tell me they are “bad test takers.” It's what keeps them away from pursuing things like advanced degrees and certifications.

Here's what my team and I have found after years of helping people earn their PMP and CAPM:

When prep focuses on memorizing a book instead of learning how to read scenarios, confidence collapses.

When prep focuses on helping you how to think, confidence builds.

I can't tell you how many "bad test takers" have told us they passed. And more importantly, learning how to think matters far beyond exam day.

One of my favorite pieces of feedback sounds like this:

“I signed up to prepare for and pass the exam. I did not expect to feel this much more confident at work.”

That is not unusual.

When people stop treating project management cert prep as theory and start applying it to real situations, everything changes.

Wisdom from rugby star Jonny Wilkinson: "If I need things to be a certain way, I'm held hostage by them."

How would you explain this idea to someone? What examples come to mind?

Leave a comment below. Thanks!

-------

In my discussion with Mary Abbajay about her book Managing Up, we talk about the difference between micromanaging and nitpicking. I don't think I'm the former, but I'm often the latter. 

And that nickpicky tendency could be an example of requiring people to go about things in my certain way--my preferred way. I'm reflecting on this quote!

Catch the full discussion with Mary in episode 317. She's an insightful person and her book is a great read!

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The Battle

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