Episode 541: Transform Project Outcomes (Premium Preview)

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Episode Summary

Project leadership is more than delivering on time and budget. It is about leading people with honesty, awareness, and courage. In this episode, leadership coach and author Susanne Madsen joins Cornelius Fichtner to discuss how project managers can transform their project outcomes by developing authentic leadership. Drawing from her acclaimed book, *The Power of Project Leadership*, Susanne explains the Project Leadership Matrix, how to assess whether we are proactive or reactive, and how self-awareness is the foundation of great leadership. She also unpacks how leaders can balance people and task focus while recognizing that reactivity often stems from corporate culture rather than personality.

Susanne highlights that leadership begins with self-awareness, courage, and emotional intelligence. Using real-world examples, she shows how leaders can “feel the fear and do it anyway” when faced with tough decisions, and how to develop a deeper understanding of what drives people by recognizing their six human needs: certainty, variety, significance, connection, growth, and contribution. Together, Cornelius and Susanne discuss the natural tensions between humility and confidence, empathy and decisiveness, and how combining these traits helps leaders inspire trust and foster team alignment.

Other key insights include the importance of congruence—aligning one’s purpose, values, and behaviors—and how leaders can influence upwards by building trust and communicating authentically. Susanne also shares hands-on advice for leading remote teams, maintaining human connection in virtual environments, and creating empowering team cultures. The conversation closes with three timeless takeaways: develop self-awareness, empower your team, and lead with courage even when the path isn’t easy. As Susanne says, project leaders aren’t in the game to take the path of least resistance—they are there to make a difference.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• How to assess your leadership style using the Project Leadership Matrix and balance task versus people focus.
• Ways to build self-awareness and honest feedback loops to strengthen proactive leadership.
• Why “feeling the fear and doing it anyway” leads to better decisions and personal growth.
• How the six human needs model can help you understand motivation and improve team engagement.
• Practical strategies to build trust, empower your team, and lead effectively in virtual environments.

Resources Mentioned

• The Power of Project Leadership – Susanne’s award-winning book offering practical guidance on authentic project leadership.
• Susanne Madsen on LinkedIn – Connect with Susanne for more leadership insights and coaching resources.
• Susanne’s YouTube Channel – Leadership videos for project professionals.

Quotes from This Episode

• "You cannot read the label from inside the jar. We need others to help us see ourselves clearly." – Susanne Madsen
• "Feel the fear and do it anyway. Courage means doing what’s right, not what’s easy." – Susanne Madsen
• "Leadership is not about rank. It’s about influence and empowering others to succeed." – Susanne Madsen
• "The more conscious you become, the better a leader you will be." – Susanne Madsen

Connect with Susanne Madsen

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanne-madsen-1134312/
• Website: https://www.susannemadsen.com

Time-Stamped Show Notes

• [00:00] - Opening remarks and introduction to the Leadership Academy series.
• [00:37] - Cornelius introduces the three leadership topics: proactivity, intuition, and virtual leadership.
• [01:52] - Background on Susanne Madsen and her career in corporate project leadership.
• [04:13] - Discussion of the Project Leadership Matrix and how to assess yourself honestly.
• [10:04] - How proactive leaders can thrive in reactive organizational cultures.
• [14:24] - “Feel the fear and do it anyway” and what it means for project leaders.
• [19:56] - Understanding the six human needs and their role in motivating teams.
• [31:40] - The value of intuition in leadership and how to avoid poor instinct-based decisions.
• [36:57] - Aligning personal values with organizational values and where to draw the line.
• [42:19] - The onion model of congruence and how authentic leaders align purpose, values, and behavior.
• [56:14] - Leading up and influencing senior management through trust and integrity.
• [1:00:39] - Creating an inspiring project vision and connecting teams to meaningful purpose.
• [1:06:27] - Why the path of least resistance doesn’t lead to leadership growth.
• [1:11:41] - Empowering your team and building vulnerability-based trust.
• [1:15:15] - Leading virtual teams and deliberately fostering human connection online.
• [1:22:15] - Final takeaways on awareness, empowerment, and courage.

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