Maintaining the Human Aspect — A conversation with Brett Harned — E21

Summary
In this conversation, Brett Harned and Matthew discuss the current challenges in business, particularly in project management, emphasizing the importance of empathy, human connection, and the evolving role of AI. They reflect on the need for a human-centered approach in project management and the significance of community and in-person interactions in professional growth. The discussion also touches on the future of work, the impact of technology, and the necessity for adaptability in a changing industry.

Bio
Brett Harned is a project management coach, operations consultant, speaker, and author of Project Management for Humans. With more than 20 years of experience helping teams work better, he has learned one fundamental principle over and over: You can't lead projects if you ignore the people doing the work.

That belief is at the heart of Project Management for Humans—not just a book, but a way of working. Harned's approach is practical, not precious. Personal, not prescriptive. Real talk, not rigid frameworks. Whether he's helping a team fix its process or coaching a burned-out PM, his goal is always the same: create systems that support the humans behind the work.

Chapters
00:00 Cold (I want my two dollars) Open
01:19 People. Don't get me started on People.
04:31 The Ideal Brett
09:09 We're Back (in-person), Baby!
14:20 The Big Shake Up
24:31 The Utility and Trustworthiness of AI
33:00 AI as a Collaborative Tool
48:18 Embracing Change in the Digital and Physical
53:18 Actual Humans Living Real Lives
53:46 Back to it
56:46 7 +/- 2 Questions
57:00 What's something you did recently that went really well?
58:23 What's something you think people should care more about?
58:51 What's your go-to dish?
59:17 What is the business value of empathy?
01:00:39 What do you hope to not be carrying anymore?

Keywords
business challenges, project management, human connection, AI, future of work, community, empathy, leadership, technology, consulting