The Project Manager
Get to know who is the engine that makes the project happen. In these podcasts, you will know the work of the project manager, his key skills and scope of work.
This playlist has 61 episodes.
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Self-Reflection on Burnout: Five Proactive Strategies for Personal Resilience
(Jun 19, 2023)
In this episode, Ricardo goes deeper into the importance of understanding burnout. In a very personal and reflective approach, Ricardo shares his own experience with burnout in recent weeks. His stories and insights offer an intimate look at a struggle several people face in silence.
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4 Ways to Improve The Relationship With Your Boss
(Jun 05, 2023)
In this episode, Ricardo explores the core principles of building stronger connections with our boss and how it is critically relevant if we want to deliver our project and get the work done. It covers how building trust, establishing connections, avoiding negative bias, and broadening our relationships can support a positive professional relationship with our supervisors. Listen to the podcast to learn more.
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Trust Me, We Can Control Much Less Than We Think
(Mar 20, 2023)
Ricardo talks about the predictions we make for our projects and initiatives in this week's episode. He explains that we frequently have an illusion of control and that the perception of future reality is significantly more complicated than reality itself. Professor Philip Tetlock found that only 45 percent of almost 30,000 predictions made by various professionals were accurate.
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Do Not Mess Up Your Communications By Using the Wrong Channel
(Feb 20, 2023)
This week, Ricardo discusses the importance of careful communication in the workplace and throughout projects. Each of us brings unique beliefs, skills, experiences, and perspectives to the table. Noise and wear and tear are detrimental to the project and our work when communication is unclear or the means used to transmit information is inadequate. The data we thought to be useful ended up being harmful.
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Trust is The Key to Get Things Done
(Jan 09, 2023)
In this episode, Ricardo talks about trust as a critical component to getting things done. He mentions that trust is not just a nice and politically correct word. Citing an HBR article, Ricardo says that trust increases productivity by 50%, engagement by 76%, and energy at work by 106%. Ricardo also shares three tips for developing trust among your teams:safety, consistency, and honesty. Listen to the episode to learn more.
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Project Management is a Life Skill
(Nov 28, 2022)
This week Ricardo shares a personal experience where he can see project management happening naturally as part of life. He made lunch at the weekend to celebrate a friend's birthday. Without even realizing it, Ricardo prepared the list of ingredients and made a mental plan of what resources he would need, how long each item would last in the oven, etc. Important to note that lunch was not for two people. It was for more than 20 people.
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The Challenges When You are Overqualified for a Job
(Aug 29, 2022)
In this week's episode, Ricardo talks about the difficulty faced by those overqualified for a given position. When a company creates a position for a new team member and receives a resume with qualifications much in excess of those needed, this CV is most likely not going to be chosen.
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Remember That the Law of Diminishing Returns Also Applies to Your Project Management Efforts
(Aug 01, 2022)
In this week's episode, Ricardo talks about the Law of Diminishing Returns applied to the effort we make to manage projects. We often doubt how much management is worth, and we try to simplify management as much as possible to avoid bureaucracy when we spend a lot of time in meetings or filling out documents and templates without reaching any results.
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We Shouldn’t Only Think About Leadership: We Also Need to Think About Followership
(Jul 25, 2022)
In this week's podcast, Ricardo talks about leadership and followership and the paranoia of today's society to exclusively focus on leadership. This episode reflects on questions like: Is being a leader the only essential profile for a company? How is the followership in this equation? Don't we all have to develop skills to lead and to be led too? Can a job be done only with leaders?
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Never Go Straight to the Offer in a Negotiation
(Jul 18, 2022)
In this week's podcast, Ricardo talks about negotiation and how it is inserted into our daily lives far beyond buying and selling relationships. He talks about negotiation steps and how we often make mistakes when skipping important phases of this process.
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Using Zoom In and Zoom Out to Master your Leadership Skills
(Jun 06, 2022)
In this week's episode, Ricardo talks about "Zoom In" and "Zoom Out" in projects, that is, how different perspectives on a problem can dramatically change our ability to solve it. Making an analogy with a photo, when we use Zoom in, we can see in more detail a small part of that photo. This Zoom In helps us understand "surgically" when in a crisis scenario.
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How to Reframe your Fears
(Nov 15, 2021)
In this week's episode, Ricardo talks about the fears we have during the development of a product, where situations are not totally in our control. Whether in the speed with which we have to carry out our deliveries and releases or in the concern of not delivering the value expected by our client, which leads us to the fear of failing and not being accepted as a leader in the project. He explains that these fears are natural reactions we have.
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3 Tips on How Time Affects Our Perceptions of Value in a Volatile Environment
(Nov 01, 2021)
In this week's episode, Ricardo talks about our perception of time when we try to assess values, risks, and scenarios in the more distant future. Time significantly affects our ability to judge, understand and evaluate scenarios. He makes an analogy between the promises made at COP 21 for the years 2070 and 2100 and comments that it is impossible to project an event for the year 2100 without having an incredibly high margin of error.
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The Legal Team is the Best Friend in Protecting Your Project and Your Organisation (Stewardship)
(Sep 13, 2021)
In this week's episode, Ricardo talks about the legal aspects of project management. He explains that the project manager often may perceive that their work is being delayed due to the requirements of other areas, for example. Ricardo explains that these requirements are made to protect the project and, in the end, your organization.
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Any Assessment is Irrelevant without a Reference
(Sep 06, 2021)
In this week's episode, Ricardo talks about the importance of having clear criteria as a reference when we evaluate a project. He explains that people's perception is different, and if we create a personal reference, it will have a different interpretation. Ricardo shows many examples of not explicit references, and besides that, the evaluation for these criteria will generate ambiguity. He also shows examples of detailed references.
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Conflict of Interest and the Impact in your Project: 5 Ethical Principles to Be a Great Steward
(Aug 30, 2021)
In this week's episode, Ricardo explains what conflicts of interest are. He also shows some examples where decision-making based on personal interest can harm the project, the organization, and other project stakeholders. He also presents the 5 ethical principles (based on the Harvard Program on Negotiation) that must be considered in project decisions to avoid a potential conflict of interest.
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Why Do We Often Ignore the Obvious?
(Aug 09, 2021)
In this week's episode, Ricardo reflects on why we often overlook the obvious. PMI principles that have often been forgotten or the Voluntary Blindness that prevents us from seeing what is in front of us. Why do we insist on preferring inertia or denial? Listen to the Podcast to learn more.
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Peter Principle of Incompetency
(Jul 26, 2021)
In this week's episode, Ricardo talks about how good people can become incompetent when promoted to positions that require different skills than those that make them stand out. Ricardo gives tips on preparing ourselves not to fall into this trap and grow in organizations with the necessary skills. Listen to the new podcast episode to know more.
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Why Did I Choose Working with Projects?
(May 04, 2021)
In this week's episode, Ricardo makes a personal reflection on why he chose to work with project management. He explains how the desire to create new things and the happiness and fulfillment when you get things done were a fuel to select his profession. The happiness for the achievement. Listen to the episode to hear his perspectives about the profession.
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Why We Should Care about Psychological Safety
(Aug 10, 2020)
In this episode, Ricardo discusses the connection between our desire for adaptability, creativity, experimentation and innovation with common human feelings like fear and safety. Providing a psychologically safe environment is becoming a critical success factor in surviving and thriving in the current scenario.
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Is the Project Manager Responsible for All the Work in the Project?
(Apr 16, 2019)
In this episode, Ricardo discusses the responsibility of the work project in coordinating the multidisciplinary work of the project. He also discusses the issue related to the role "Project Manager" and in the effectiveness of the title in transforming ideas into results.
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Generalization x Detailing: The good, the bad and the ugly
(Oct 17, 2018)
In this episode, Ricardo discusses the characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of more detailed planning versus more generic and agile planning. It also presents the 3 criteria that it usually uses to define how well it generalizes and how detailed it is.
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I'm in Panic: My Project's End is Near
(May 20, 2018)
In this episode, Ricardo discusses the drama that many project managers feel when the end of the project approaches: the fear of the future and the consequences of unemployment. Unlike in previous episodes where he spoke to the project managers, Ricardo now gives a direct message to executives and sponsors about talent management and how to turn project management into an organizational career.
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Why Ethics Matter?
(Mar 05, 2018)
In this episode, Ricardo returns to talk about the concept of ethics among the project environment and recommends the work of the Project Management Institute (available at www.pmi.org/about/ethics) and the Institute for Global Ethics (www.globalethics.org).
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Understanding the Fear of the New (Neophobia)
(May 29, 2017)
In this episode, Ricardo talks about neophobia, or the fear of the new, a natural feeling that afflicts project managers, even those with great experience. He gives tips on how to deal with the problem: face the new with curiosity, as something to explore; know that this feeling is not exclusive, everyone feels it to a greater or lesser degree; know yourself, your strengths and weaknesses, and deal with them.
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Does the Age Matter for a Project Manager?
(May 08, 2017)
In this episode, Ricardo returns to the subject of the last episode and explains what it is to actually have relevant experience as a project manager, as opposed to simply having years of service.
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What Makes a “Great” Project Manager
(May 01, 2017)
In this episode, Ricardo talks about the skills of great project managers: having a track record, a history of challenges, failures, and successes throughout his/her career and having a great ability to communicate. He ends up answering the controversial question that always arises: is it a mandatory condition for the project success that the manager holds the technical knowledge, the expertise, about the product to be developed?
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Why You Must Be Proud of What You Do?
(Jun 27, 2016)
In this episode, Ricardo emphasizes that one of the project's main success factors is the project manager's behavior and his sense of purpose, the motivation that drives him/her toward a satisfying future.
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The Civil and Criminal Liability of a Project Manager
(Mar 09, 2016)
In this episode, Ricardo asks: can the project manager be subject to criminal or civil liability for something that went wrong on the project?
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Psychological Contract: The contract you do not need to sign
(Sep 08, 2015)
In this episode, Ricardo talks about a kind of invisible contract that governs people's relations within organizations and that can have a significant impact on the project's success or failure.
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Ego, Vanity and Jealousy: The Project Manager's Drama
(Oct 07, 2013)
In this podcast, Ricardo talks about ego, vanity and jealousy in the project environment. He gives tips on how we can deal with these personal characteristics that may directly or indirectly affect the project.
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Why are we so afraid of failure?
(May 20, 2013)
In this podcast, Ricardo proposes to us a reflection: why, in both our professional and personal lives, the fear of failure bothers us so much? He says that many societies value the success and penalize failure at the same intensity, and leaves the question: does this logic is the best one?
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The Importance of Proactivity in Negotiations
(Feb 18, 2013)
In this podcast, Ricardo explains the importance of understanding the difference between passive and proactive behavior in negotiations. He cites the books "Getting Past No" and "Getting To Yes" by William Ury.
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The Power of Truth in Project Management
(Feb 04, 2013)
In this podcast, Ricardo talks about the power of truth. He stresses that the project manager should speak the truth even if the project status is critical.
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The Success is a Danger
(Nov 05, 2012)
In this podcast, Ricardo throws the question: When success becomes a danger? When the project starts to work too well, success can go to your head? He talks about the consequences and give insights on how to prevent this from happening.
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Developing your Business Model as Project Manager
(Sep 10, 2012)
In this special podcast, Ricardo talks about the book "Business Model You" and the Business Model Canvas. Both inspired him to create the Project Manager's Business Model that he comments in this podcast. There is also be a special video on the site, where Ricardo gives examples of career planning for a GP.
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Project Manager as the New CEO
(Aug 20, 2012)
In this podcast, Ricardo talks about a discussion launched by PMI: The Project Manager may become the next CEO? What is the role of a CEO? Ricardo explains how the project manager could be prepared to take this position in a corporation.
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Project Manager and the PMO: Understanding the Issue of the Authority
(Jul 12, 2012)
In this podcast, Ricardo shares his understanding about the organization's hierarchy and the project manager. He also explains the differences between the role of the project manager and the role of the project office.
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How many projects a Project Manager can manage at the same time?
(Oct 03, 2011)
In this podcast, Ricardo talks about the number of projects that one person can manage simultaneously. He says that there is no specific number but explains that the project manager's focus is the most important. Ricardo also says that huge projects do not justify a project manager sharing the work with other projects. Still, in small projects that have some similarities, the project manager could manage multiple projects simultaneously.
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The Power of Positive Feedback
(Sep 26, 2011)
In this podcast Ricardo talks about the strength of a positive feedback. He says that we have a culture of giving negative feedback and that we usually do not remember to praise when a good work is done. Ricardo explains that just an email or a comment about the good work is usually enough to motivate anybody, thus leading her/him to make less mistakes in the execution of his/her work.
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When the Boss doesn't Accept the Project Manager Opinion
(Sep 08, 2011)
In this podcast, Ricardo talks about the relationship between the project manager and his boss in the organization. He explains that different opinions are part of the work and when the project manager suggests a direction to a superior, he must have grounding through data and facts, so hardly he will be challenged.
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Project Manager Authority
(Apr 14, 2011)
In this podcast, Ricardo talks about the authority of the Project Manager. He explains that it is very common in projects where the company has a functional or weak matrix structure, project managers with little authority. Ricardo gives some tips on how to increase the authority in projects
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Make or Not Make Concessions: The Project Manager's Dilemma
(May 18, 2010)
In this podcast, Ricardo talks about the concessions that the project manager often does. He explains that the concession usually is harmful to the project, because when the project manager makes a concession, he ceases to follow the plans, and shows that he is not serious about the plan. Ricardo also explained that once … made the concession, it becomes very difficult to not do more.
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Procrastination
(Apr 26, 2010)
In this podcast, Ricardo talks about procrastination in projects, ie the act of delaying something in the project. He explains the reasons why people take this attitude also called of "student syndrome".
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I am an New Manager of an Old Project: The Implications of Changing the Project Manager During the Project
(Apr 13, 2010)
In this podcast, Ricardo talks about what happens when the project manager is changed midway through the project, he explains that is important to keep the core team to ensure understanding of the project and gives some tips for the new project manager.
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Meetings Management – The Nightmare of the Project Manager – Part 2 of 2
(Jan 11, 2010)
Part 2 of 2 of the podcast where Ricardo talks about one of the biggest nightmares of the project manager: the meetings. Many times bad planned and with very low effectiveness this podcast tries to show techniques and practices for meeting management, aiming to plan properly, and increase the project success rate.
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Meetings Management - The Nightmare of the Project Manager - Part 1 of 2
(Jan 04, 2010)
In this podcast Ricardo talks about one of the biggest nightmares of the project manager: the meetings. Many times bad planned and with very low effectiveness this podcast tries to show techniques and practices for meeting management, aiming to plan properly, and increase the project success rate. Part 1 of 2 podcasts.
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The Project Manager is Not the Project Secretary
(Dec 07, 2009)
In this podcast Ricardo discusses the real role of the project manager as a decision maker. He afirms that the project manager doesn't have the function of only generate elegant reports and preparing meetings. His/her role goes above and beyond this. The PM role is to take the right decision to lead the project to success.
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Differentiating the Functions of the Project Manager and the Project Management Office
(Sep 28, 2009)
In this podcast Ricardo talks about the misunderstanding that many professionals make about the roles of the project manager and the PMO. Many professionals assert incorrectly that the management of the project is a PMO role. He also explains the differences between the 2 roles using an analogy with a car in a road with a driver and a instrument panel.
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7 Soft Skills for the Project Manager
(Sep 14, 2009)
In this podcast Ricardo talks again about the relevance of the soft skills for the project manager. He presents in this podcast 7 indispensable abilities to a successful Project Manager.
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Are All Project Managers the Same to All Projects?
(Jun 08, 2009)
In this podcast Ricardo talks about the main characteristics of project managers and discuss if this characteristics should be the same to all kind of projects and if should exist some kind of technical specialization in the subject or not in order to execute the proper project planning and control.
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The Major Problems of the Project Manager
(Jan 26, 2009)
In this podcast, Ricardo talks about the main problems faced by the project manager. He mentionss that many of these problems are related to human resources. This podcast was recorded only in Brazilian Portuguese. The link below is for the Brazilian Portuguese version.
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Half Sponsor, half manager
(Sep 08, 2008)
In this podcast, from a suggestion of Alexandre Giordani, Ricardo Vargas talks about the sponsor that wants to manage the project. He explains that each person has a role in the project and that the sponsors role is to give support to the manager and to be a great guardian of the project. This podcast was recorded only in Brazilian Portuguese. The link below is for the Brazilian Portuguese version.
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Knowledge Management
(Sep 01, 2008)
In this podcast Ricardo Vargas talks about the importance of knowledge management in the field of project management. Starting from the knowledge obtained from previous projects, the project manager can optimize his/her project and avoid risk situations that happened in other projects. Ricardo also shows the importance of disseminating the knowledge and documenting the project. This podcast was recorded only in Brazilian Portuguese.
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The Importance of Negotiations Skills for the Project Manager - Part II
(Nov 26, 2007)
In this podcast Ricardo continues talking about the importance of negotiations skills for the project manager. The fist part of this podcast was published in March, 19th and is also available to download. This podcast was recorded only in Brazilian Portuguese. The link below is for the Brazilian Portuguese version.
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The Importance of Negotiations Skills for the Project Manager - Part I
(Nov 26, 2007)
Learn with Ricardo Vargas in this podcast the importance of the negotiations skills for the project manager and how to become a powerful negotiator. This podcast was recorded only in Brazilian Portuguese. The link below is for the Brazilian Portuguese version.
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Power and Politics in Projects
(Nov 05, 2007)
In this podcast Ricardo talks about one of the most important and less discussed themes related to the project manager: the power. Seen by many as something. This podcast was recorded only in Brazilian Portuguese. The link below is for the Brazilian Portuguese version.
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Ethics: Egoism x Altruism
(Sep 17, 2007)
In this podcast Ricardo continues the podcast of August 20th about ethics and professional responsibility, approaching the egoism and altruism concepts. This podcast was recorded only in Brazilian Portuguese. The link below is for the Brazilian Portuguese version.
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Ethics and Professional Responsibility in Projects
(Aug 20, 2007)
In this podcast Ricardo make comments about the new PMI Code of Ethics and the importance of an ethical attitude and it's influence in the project environment. This podcast was recorded only in Brazilian Portuguese. The link below is for the Brazilian Portuguese version.
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Networking for the Project Manager - Linkedin
(Apr 02, 2007)
Ricardo Vargas talks in this podcast about the Professional networking website Linkedin.com and how this can bring opportunities for the Project manager. He presents his own success case, including the Professional opportunities that appear while business people visited his profile. This podcast was recorded only in Brazilian Portuguese. The link below is for the Brazilian Portuguese version.
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Project Manager Roles and Responsibilities
(Feb 14, 2007)
Ricardo Vargas presents in this podcast the main roles and responsibilities of the project manager. He also talks about the project manager professional profile to deal with different project scenarios. Content in Brazilian portuguese.
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