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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 ...
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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.By james8yk
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Chapter 12: Conclusion – Projects can be better
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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 d…
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Chapter 11: Cost – How to think about it, how to discuss it, and how to keep a lid on it
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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…
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Chapter 10: Stakeholders – Who they are and how to make sure they are on your side
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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…
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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.By james8yk
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Chapter 9: Team – Your most valuable resource
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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 balancin…
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Chapter 8: Quality – Not messing stuff up
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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’…
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Chapter 7: Time – How to predict the future
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“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 …
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Chapter 6: Risks (and Assumptions, Dependencies, and Issues) – Managing what could go wrong
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"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 h…
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Chapter 5: Scope and Prioritisation – Maximise the work that you don’t do!
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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 n…
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Chapter 4: Approach – Some ideas on how to structure your project
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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, Waterfal…
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Chapter 3 - Techniques & Tips - It's easy if you know how!
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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 h…
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Chapter 2 - The Lenses - How to think like an expert
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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 en…
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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 i…
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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 …
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