The Journey from Project Manager to Chief of Staff with Darby Strong

In this conversation, Dave Prior and Darby Strong explore the transition from project management to the role of chief of staff, emphasizing the importance of interpersonal skills, empathy, and systems thinking. They discuss how experiences in the restaurant industry can shape effective project managers and the significance of creating a supportive work environment. The dialogue highlights the need for leaders to be aware of their impact on team dynamics and the importance of fostering a culture of collaboration and trust. In this conversation, Darby and Dave explore the nuances of leadership roles, particularly the differences between project managers and chiefs of staff. They discuss the importance of trust, courage, and the ability to absorb ambiguity in leadership. Darby shares her personal journey and insights on transitioning from project management to a chief of staff role, emphasizing the need for cooperation and systems thinking. The conversation also touches on the significance of taking action and the value of interdisciplinary approaches in effective leadership.

drunkenpmradio · The Journey from Project Manager to Chief of Staff with Darby Strong

 Takeaways

• The restaurant experience provides valuable skills for project management.
• Effective project managers are often generalists with a systems thinking approach.
• Communication and empathy are crucial in leadership roles.
• Creating a supportive environment helps teams thrive.
• The role of chief of staff involves strategic partnership with leadership.
• Project managers can influence organizational culture positively.
• Understanding team dynamics is essential for effective leadership.
• Compassion for leaders can enhance team performance.
• Interdependence is key in collaborative work environments.
• Project managers should focus on nurturing both teams and leadership.
• Chiefs of staff need to absorb ambiguity for clarity.
• Building trust takes time and consistent effort.
• Courage to be candid is crucial in leadership roles.
• Project managers can transition to chief of staff roles with the right mindset.
• Creating systems for cooperation is essential in leadership.
• Influence is a key skill for project managers and scrum masters.
• Taking action can help overcome inertia and open new opportunities.
• Interdisciplinary approaches can enhance leadership effectiveness.
• Understanding natural systems is vital for effective project management.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

02:58 The Restaurant Experience and Project Management

06:03 The Importance of People in Project Management

08:56 Transitioning from Project Management to Chief of Staff

12:04 The Role of a Chief of Staff

14:53 Navigating Leadership and Team Dynamics

18:02 Empathy and Perspective in Leadership

25:26 Interdependence Day: A Unique Celebration

26:10 Traits of a Chief of Staff vs. Project Manager

30:12 Building Trust and Courage in Leadership

32:23 Absorbing Ambiguity: The Role of a Chief of Staff

33:20 Transitioning from Project Management to Chief of Staff

35:15 Creating Systems for Cooperation

37:12 The Influence of Project Managers and Scrum Masters

41:56 Taking Action: Overcoming Inertia

43:42 Interdisciplinary Approaches in Leadership

Contacting Darby

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darbystrong/

Navigating AI in Business Strategy with John Tanner

In this conversation, John Tanner discusses the evolving role of AI in business strategy, emphasizing the need for leaders to understand AI's impact on their organizations. He highlights the challenges of integrating AI, the importance of data management, and the necessity for project managers to adapt their skills in the face of new technologies. Tanner also introduces his course on AI readiness, which aims to equip professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the AI landscape effectively.

Watch the video version here.

Listen to the audio version here.

The Art of Giving Feedback with Lonnie Weaver-Johnson

In this episode of the Reluctant Agilist, Dave Prior and Lonnie Weaver-Johnson delve into the intricacies of giving and receiving feedback. They explore personal experiences, the importance of empathy, and various models for effective feedback. The conversation emphasizes the need for clarity, intent, and kindness in feedback delivery, while also addressing the challenges of navigating feedback in professional settings. Lonnie shares her insights from years of experience in performance reviews and coaching, highlighting the significance of understanding individual differences in feedback reception.

Watch the video version here.

Listen to the audio version here.

Navigating Uncertainty: Preparing for Success in 2026 with Johanna Rothman and Mark Kilby

In this episode of the Reluctant Agilist, host Dave Prior welcomes Mark Kilby and Johanna Rothman to discuss their reflections and plans for the new year. The conversation begins with a candid admission from Dave about feeling lost in setting goals for 2026, prompting Johanna to suggest a shift in focus from preparing for risks to preparing for success. The trio explores the importance of collaboration and the need to let go of what hinders progress, particularly in the context of AI and its implications for project management. They emphasize the necessity of resilience and adaptability in a rapidly changing world, advocating for a more positive outlook on success rather than a fear-based approach to risk management.

As the discussion unfolds, they delve into the challenges posed by generative AI, the importance of trust in technology, and the need for personal and organizational resilience. The episode culminates in a reflection on the significance of collaboration and the value of learning from one another, highlighting the importance of community in navigating the complexities of modern work environments. Ultimately, the conversation serves as a reminder to focus on personal growth, inclusivity, and the pursuit of meaningful connections in both professional and personal spheres.

The video version of this podcast is here

The audio version of this podcast is here

David Marquet - Distancing - How Great Leaders Make Better Decisions

David Marquet is back! He's the author of 'Turn The Ship Around', 'Leadership is Language', and the co-author of 'Distancing - How Great Leaders Reframe to Make Better Decisions'.  David is always great in an interview, and this is no exception. He was even kind enough to share my favorite story from Leadership is Language.  

Check out the interview and then pick up the book!

You can find the interview here.

You can pick up the book here.

The Art of War with Si Alhir

Si Alhir joins me to discuss Sun Tzu's The Art of War, its application in transformation work, and the naturalness and unity found within its wisdom. We explore the concept of taking whole, the relationship with the environment, and the role of the Sage Commander. Si shares personal experiences and insights, emphasizing the transformative power of the Art of War. The conversation delves into the concept of enlightened leadership and the application of the principles from 'The Art of War' in organizational transformation. It explores the distinction between an enlightened ruler and a wise general, the importance of psychological safety, and the shift from a vicious ego-based reality control cycle to a virtuous eco-based reality navigation cycle. The conversation concludes with a powerful story of using the ordinary and the extraordinary to transform toxic organizational dynamics.

You can find the podcast here: https://tinyurl.com/57ku8kdv

Is this the Darkest Agile Timeline?

George Schlitz joins the podcast to discuss the current state of Agile, whether or not this is the darkest timeline, how we got here, how to make it better, and where to look for hope.

If you aren’t familiar with The Darkest Timeline, in the show Community there was a storyline where a random occurrence created multiple parallel timelines. A roll of the dice created six possible ways things could have gone… basically a six-sided multiverse. 

And one of the parallels created is THE DARKEST TIMELINE. It’s basically the Lemony Snicket timeline of worst case scenario where Captain Kirk is sporting his Van Dyke beard, Thomas Wayne is Batman instead of Bruce Wayne, it rains all the time, you miss every bus, never made that play in the big game, never asked that person to the prom, never got that promotion… you get the idea.

You can listen to the podcast here: http://tinyurl.com/ndkdkrxp

Lead Without Blame with Tricia Broderick

Tricia Broderick joins me to discuss Lead Without Blame, the book she co-wrote with Diana Larsen. If you are looking for ways to help your team raise their game, there is a lot the book, and this interview has to offer. 

You can find the video version of the interview here: https://bit.ly/3GwO2rg 

You can find the audio version of the interview here: https://sbit.ly/3YdZbFl

Responsibility Immersion with Christoper Avery, Henning Wolf, and Patricia Sappenfield

The Responsibility Process is a system that provides you with tools that enable you to develop leadership skills by leading yourself first. Christopher Avery is now offering a 20-week Responsibility Immersion program where a small group of individuals will work together to learn, and deepen their understanding and practice of The Responsibility Process.

This interview features the creator of The Responsibility Process, Christopher Avery, Henning Wolf who is an Accredited Responsibility Mentor and a Certified Responsibility Workshop Leader who leads Responsibility Immersions in Germany, and Patricia Sappenfield, who has recently been through Responsibility Immersion. During the conversation, we discuss what the Responsibility Process is, how Immersion works and how you can learn more about it in advance of the workshop to make sure it is right for you. 

This interview is being posted in advance of the September 2021 Responsibility Immersion which begins on September 8. For more information please go to: https://responsibility.com/immersion

An audio-only version can be found here: https://soundcloud.com/drunkenpmradio/responsibility-immersion-august-2021

Contact Info:

• Christopher Avery: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopheravery/
• Henning Wolf: https://www.selbstfuehren.de
• Patricia Sappenfield: patricia_sappenfield@baylor.edu
• Dave Prior: https://drunkenpm.blogspot.com/

Leadership is Language with L. David Marquet

Leadership is Language is the new book by L. David Marquet it out now. If you read Turn the Ship Around and are working on your approach to Intent Based Leadership, this book is going to have a massive impact on your ability to communicate more effectively. 

David was kind enough to let me interview him about the book. You can find the interview on The Reluctant Agilist ->  https://www.projectmanagement.com/blog-post/60205/Leadership-is-Language-with-David-Marquet

Emotional Science - The Key to Unlocking High Performance (with Audree and Micheal Sahota)

Emotional Science is a new book written by Audree and Michael Sahota that focuses on helping individuals discover and break through the blockers that are holding them back from becoming better leaders. It is often said that if you want to lead others, you first have to lead yourself. Many of us have the desire to be able to show up as better leaders, we read books, sign up for seminars and yet, when it comes down to doing the actual work, we struggle. The reason for this is often that, while we want the results, the work itself is often too daunting to take on. 

Emotional Science provides a set of tools you can begin to employ that will help you discover the blockers you have placed in your own path and work through how to remove those blockers. The book also explores how your own emotional history can impact your ability to gain clarity on how that history impacts your ability to lead yourself, and others. 

One of the most impactful things I have picked up from this book is the idea that emotions have no sense of time. Something from your past that is unresolved can sneak up and find it’s way into how you respond to something that is happening to you right now. This is true of humans, and, to an extent, to companies as well. 

In this interview Audree and Michael share what led them to writing this book and how their diverse backgrounds brought them together in a shared goal of helping us (and the organizations we work for) find a better way to show up and be clear about the work required to achieve the results we are looking for when it comes to transformation. 

If you’d like to learn more about Emotional Science, including the free exercises and downloads that are offered and links to where you can purchase the book, visit https://emotionalscience.com/

You can also find Michael via the links below:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/michaelsahota

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/michaelsahota

And if you’d like to find out more about Michael’s Certified upcoming Scrum and Certified Agile Leadership Classes, click here: https://bit.ly/2NXcEgN

Christopher Avery and The Leadership Gift

Christopher Avery is the author of The Responsibility Process and Teamwork Is an Individual Skill. He’s also one of the most inspiring and impactful people I’ve ever had a chance to interview. The Responsibility Process is an approach to understanding how each of us takes ownership of our understanding, and response to the challenges we face. It includes techniques that provide clarity on how the internal narrative we all create shows the extent to which we are able to realize our role in, and the level of responsibility we are taking with the things we face.

In this interview Christopher and I talk about The Responsibility Process and how his online program The Leadership Gift, is designed to help people embrace the process and use it to ltransform themselves into more fully realized, present and engaged leaders.


Over the last 20 years, there are very few things I’ve read which have had as significant an impact on me as The Responsibility Process. I can’t recommend it enough. But, one word of caution… this book is very likely going to completely strip away your ability to stay in the mindset of someone who has been totally victimized by external forces.

In the next few weeks I am going to sign up to participate in The Leadership Gift and I’ll be posting periodically on how it is impacting me.

If you’d like to check out an additional video where Christopher explains the The Leadership Gift in greater detail, you can find it here: https://www.projectmanagement.com/videos/286574/Your-Agile-Leadership-Gift

Links:

To learn more about The Leadership Gift, go here: http://www.the.leadershipgift.com
To find Christoper’s books on Amazon, go here: https://amzn.to/2rzj5h1
For more on Christopher: https://www.christopheravery.com
To find Christopher on Twitter: https://twitter.com/christopheraver

For more on Noel Tichy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noel_Tichy

Mission Statements & Developing Cross Functional Teams w/ Celeste Giampetro

In this podcast, PebblePost’s VP of Marketing, Celeste Giampetro, talked with Dave about the importance of defining a good mission statement, why Marketing needs more generalists than specialists now, how to develop cross-functional teams, and leading with vulnerability. During the conversation, they also spent time discussing different leadership techniques that will help you get the most out of your team.

SHOW NOTES

00:08 Podcast TLDR
01:44 Podcast Begins
02:11 Some background on Pebble Post and Celeste’s role there
03:31 Is having a mission statement or vision statement important?
04:03 What problem is Pebble Post solving and how are they solving it?
09:43 Why marketers need to focus on being more generalized than specialized.
11:49 When are you done being a startup?
12:58 How we ended up with so much specialization in the first place
13:48 How do you determine if your generalist actually has the focused skills you need.
15:09 How to find people who want to grow and then to mentor them
16:03 Leading with vulnerability and transparency
18:10 What value does a manager get from leading with vulnerability
19:42 An example of how leading with vulnerability and transparency backfired
20:31 The benefits of giving up the control and power; and how it can have a very positive impact on the organization
22:00 Making sure everyone knows the Mission and Vision Statement
22:18 Introducing cross-functionality into your team
24:08 Do Gen X and Millennials approach collaboration and cross-functionality differently?
25:18 What is the key to motivating people? “Can you extract from them their best work?”
27:07 The importance of learning about the people on your team before you start trying to direct their behavior.
28:07 On Managing people - “It’s al about relationship building”
28:55 Agile at PebblePost
30:32 Getting in touch with Celeste

CONTACTING CELESTE

Twitter https://twitter.com/stinapessa
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/celestegiampetro/
Pebble Post http://pebblepost.com

CELESTE'S ARTICLE

Step Aside, Specialist: Return Of The Marketing Generalist