The Influential Project Manager

Berlin Airport: 8 years late. London's Crossrail: $4B over budget. Google Stadia: Dead in 3 years. The common thread? The Iron Triangle of Project Management—an outdated framework that's killing modern projects. In 2025, "Fast, cheap, or good—pick two" is dead. "Antifragile project management" is the future. Here's why: 1. Modern projects demand flexibility - Tesla makes 20 engineering changes weekly. The old triangle can't handle this pace. 2. Projects are complex systems, not isolated tasks - Apple coordinates thousands of moving parts for each iPhone launch. Linear thinking fails. 3. Traditional frameworks break under pressure - SpaceX proves you can be faster, cheaper, AND better simultaneously. 4. Stakeholder complexity has exploded - Major projects juggle dozens of competing interests that triangles can't capture. The evidence is clear: While rigid frameworks crumble under pressure, antifragile systems actually get stronger. This is the future of project delivery. Want to learn how to make your projects antifragile? I just shared several strategies and implementation tips with 5,300+ project leaders in this week's newsletter. Get the full guide here: https://lnkd.in/gPKbvUdU 💭 What are your thoughts? ♻️ Reshare if I got this right.

5,000 subscribers 🤯 This is getting crazy… I wanted to take a moment to express my gratitude. This newsletter has grown beyond my wildest dreams, and your support always makes my day. Here are just a few messages that warmed my heart recently: ✅ "I read this newsletter every Monday morning before I start my week! It is worth the read EVERY time!" - Coty Fournier Author, Construction Industry Consultant ✅ "Valuable information for team building and insights into yourself to be a better manager." - Jon Cochran, Director of Operations ✅ "The company I work for lacks in training and procedures. Your work is helping me become a better PM and bridge the gap that I am missing due to the lack of formal training." - Anonymous Project Manager If you manage projects and want to: → Plan with ease → Control your risk → Manage stakeholders → Lead your team with confidence Then join The Influential Project Manager. I share a strategic idea with 5,000+ project leaders every Tuesday. Always 5 minutes or less. Next stop, 10,000 📈

I spent way too much time testing ConTech this year. Here's what actually worked... In this week's newsletter, I share 14 Top Construction Management Tools to consider adding to your 2025 tech stack. Outbuild, INGENIOUS.BUILD, Siteaware, Krane, & Notion to name a few. As construction managers, we take on a lot of risk—managing people, equipment, and materials while staying on schedule and budget. It’s a tough job, but the right tools (and systems) can make it easier. Here they are: https://lnkd.in/g6JgE9y5 ✍ Did I miss a tool or category? ♻️ Reshare if I got this right.

The outdated of managing material deliveries: - Sticky notes falling off whiteboards - Blurry photos sent to the back office - Frantic texts asking "Where's my delivery?" All that hard work for materials showing up at the wrong place, wrong time? Here's the new path: https://lnkd.in/gDeMfeHy

These 3 tools will make you sharper than 90% of project managers... (it starts by rethinking how you plan & schedule projects) I love solving scheduling and planning challenges, digitally. Over the years, I’ve found a handful of digital tools that make my life easier. They have become part of my daily routine, and I can’t recommend them enough. Here are my top 3 picks: 🔨 Outbuild: Simplify Last Planner System® implementation. - Brings first and last planners together. - Keeps everyone aligned and saves hours of planning time. - Tracks roadblocks, generates lookaheads, and provides actionable data. 🔧 Miro: Visualize and collaborate projects. - Perfect for pull plans, Scrum boards, A3 reports, process maps, and flowcharts. - Ideal for brainstorming and collaborative planning—even with remote teams. 🛠️ ConstructivIQ: Tackle procurement bottlenecks head-on. - Connects your supply chain to your project schedule. - Get the right information and materials at the right time. - Replaces messy spreadsheets with real-time procurement tracking. It’s the solution the industry has needed for years. My favorite part? These tools allow you to deploy plenty of lean strategies and tactics. You'll get to experience the euphoria of driving the bus while keeping the lights green. 🚦 Want to learn how to maximize these tools and tackle supply chain challenges? 📧 Join 4,700+ subscribers who got this week’s newsletter, where I break it all down. Here you go: https://lnkd.in/gJYX3X6v May your projects be many and your troubles be few. What’s your favorite tool for scheduling and planning? Drop it below. The Influential Project Manager

A strong LinkedIn profile is career currency. If I had to start over today, here’s exactly what I’d do: LinkedIn has evolved. It’s no longer just a fancy online resume anymore. With the right tweaks, your profile can: - Attract clients, employees, & recruiters - Spark genuine, meaningful connections - Open doors you didn’t know existed Your profile is a component of your personal brand, and when done right, it helps you stand out and get discovered by the right audience. In my latest newsletter, I break down how to optimize your LinkedIn profile step-by-step: 1. Use a professional headshot - Zoomed in, clear, and high-quality (1080 x 1080 HD) - No distracting background - Avoid the "Open for Work" badge 2. Create an on-brand banner - Keep it clean and simple - One very clear sentence and one call-to-action 3. Optimize your headline - Make it short, clear, and memorable - State how you can help your audience 4. Make the Featured section your "digital storefront" - Avoid generic meeting requests - Highlight your best work or services - Showcase links to products, services, or booking 5. Tell your story in the About section - Make it engaging and relatable - Use clear formatting for readability - Share your story, but keep it audience-focused - Add a call-to-action at the end 6. Identify and engage with your community - Speak to a specific audience, not everyone - Create content for one ideal person - Focus on value, not self-promotion 7. Earn badges, skills, and certifications - Use the Skills, Experiences, and Recommendations sections strategically 8. Publish quality content consistently - Share team wins and project updates - Comment thoughtfully on industry posts. - Posts lessons and insights from your work Optimizing your LinkedIn profile is an investment in your career. But, before you can play in the game, you need to make sure your profile is ready to compete. Get all the details here: (check comments 👇) ♻️ Found this helpful? Repost to help someone in your network.

I’ve avoided multiple six-figure disputes. But most project leaders face: - Disputes over unclear agreements. - Scope creep from undocumented changes. - Wasting hours trying to piece together old decisions. Turns out, a large % of disputes involve poor meeting documentation. To avoid this trap, here’s my 6-step roadmap to master meeting minutes: Step 1: Prepare To kick things off: - Use a pre-filled template. - Outline a simple agenda. - Identify critical decisions ahead of time. Start here to create structure before the meeting starts. Step 2: Capture Notes in Real Time Now you have two paths: - Jot down decisions as they’re made. - Or type meeting minutes live during the discussion. Choose your method, but don’t delay—document as it happens. Step 3: Confirm Agreements Out Loud Focus on two pillars: 1. Clarity - Summarize what was agreed. - Assign next steps immediately. - Clarify who is responsible for what. 2. Transparency - Ensure everyone in the room is aligned. - Avoid ambiguous language. Set expectations on the spot. Step 4: Provide Full Context Mistake: Writing vague notes with no details. Solution: Capture the "why" behind the "what." - Describe discussions thoroughly. - Avoid overuse of abbreviations. - Provide enough context to act confidently. Context turns notes into actionable insights. Step 5: Automate When Possible This final step unlocks efficiency: - My favorite tool is Cogram to capture meetings automatically. - Generate clear action items. - Create polished reports in minutes. Do this, and you’ll save time while boosting trust and alignment. Great meeting documentation isn’t just busywork—it’s a leadership multiplier. I shared this full system with 4,750+ newsletter subscribers, saving them time, money, and stress. Here it is: https://lnkd.in/g6jZH8mR P.S. ✨ I share 1 tangible project management idea, every week ✨ Subscribe to not miss the next one.

Last week, I joined 1,400+ at the 26th LCI Congress in San Diego. My 10 key learnings (that everyone needs to hear): 1️⃣ Takt is an enabler for ALL Lean thinking. 2️⃣ The bottleneck always rules—find it, fix it, and move on to the next one. 3️⃣ If you don't respect people, you're not lean. 4️⃣ Pull-based production systems prevent chaos. 5️⃣ Culture eats lean strategy for breakfast. 6️⃣ Leadership is the ultimate lean tool. 7️⃣ Discipline equals freedom. 8️⃣ Looking forward AND backwards are equally important. 9️⃣ Contracts should incentivize collaboration. 🔟 Solve the problem by seeing it differently. 💡 Biggest Takeaway: Progress happens when the right people are in the right room, working together. Find the rooms that challenge, inspire, and push you to grow. And when you get there, create value for others without expecting anything in return. My Leadership Rule: Get in the room where it happens. Once you’re in, help others get there too. Want the full breakdown of these insights? When I got home, I went through all my notes to lay it out for you. Read the full recap: https://lnkd.in/g-4F-mbR ✍ What was your biggest takeaway from LCI Congress last week? Follow me Kyle Nitchen for more learnings in future! (Photo source: Lean Construction Institute (US))

Relax. AI won’t steal your job. But the PM who understands MEP systems might... Here’s why: 1️⃣ Up to 60% of your project's budget could be tied up in MEP. That’s a huge chunk of change you need to manage wisely. 2️⃣ MEP impacts every major component on site. The placement of MEP systems directly affects civil, structural, and architectural plans. 3️⃣ MEP changes can wreck timelines. Know the systems, and you’ll stay ahead of costly disruptions. 4️⃣ MEP drives your schedule. Procurement, start-up, testing, and commissioning can make or break your deadlines. 5️⃣ If you don’t know MEP, you’ll rely on others. And that’s not the position you want to be in. Takeaway: Every construction manager should sharpen their MEP skills. I’ve put together everything you need to know in one easy-to-follow guide. Ready to level up? Read my Beginner’s Guide to Understanding MEP Systems: https://lnkd.in/gBffmTVp P.S. What’s the biggest MEP challenge you’ve faced on a project—and how did you handle it?

🤯 I asked ChatGPT to analyze my email list — and I'm SPEECHLESS! I took my 5,109 newsletter subscribers and had the AI check their email domains... to see which companies they work for. The results? 🥹 Employees from ENR Top 400 contractors (like STO Building Group, DPR Construction, AECOM, Mortenson, CBRE, HENSEL PHELPS, JE Dunn Construction) and countless other great builders and construction tech companies are among my readers. This is beyond my wildest dreams. THANK YOU for reading The Influential Project Manager ❤️ Join here: https://lnkd.in/g5TFHbtJ