Welcome to Between the Milestones
Real Leadership. Honest Stories. Weekly Momentum.
Between the Milestones is your weekly guide to leading projects with clarity and confidence. Each issue delivers practical insights, field-tested strategies, and stories from project managers facing real challenges. Whether new or experienced, this is where leadership gets real.
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Leading With Questions
How asking the right things makes you the most trusted voice in the room
Read Time: 5 minutes
You do not have all the answers.You are not an expert in every domain.But what you do have, the most powerful tool in your toolkit, is your ability to ask the right questions.
It is not your knowledge th...
by Daniel Hemhauser —
Jun 24, 2025
pm soft skills
stakeholder management
team dynamics
The Right Work at the Wrong Time
How mistimed decisions derail good projects
Read Time: 5 minutes
You had the right goal.You had the right team.You had the right strategy.
But you still missed the mark.
Sometimes, the biggest issue is not what — it’s the when.Let’s talk about how timing makes or breaks delivery.
Why Good Work Fa...
by Daniel Hemhauser —
Jun 24, 2025
change management
continuous improvement
project delivery
You Don’t Need to Know It All
How great project managers lead even when they are not the technical expert
Read Time: 5 minutes
You joined the kickoff.You scanned the system diagram.You asked a few clarifying questions.
However, the truth is that you do not fully understand the technology.
And that’s okay.
Because your value a...
by Daniel Hemhauser —
Jun 24, 2025
pm soft skills
project delivery
trust building
The Real Reason Projects Fall Behind
Why early planning decisions shape everything that follows
Read Time: 5 minutes
Most people think late projects are caused by poor execution.
But more often than not, the real damage is done in the first few weeks, before delivery even begins.
The way you shape the scope, align expectations, and ...
by Daniel Hemhauser —
Jun 24, 2025
lessons learned
project planning
risk management
The Kickoff Meeting Is Not a Formality
Why the First Hour of a Project Can Define the Next Six Months
Read Time: 5 minutes
You built the timeline.You aligned the scope.You booked the kickoff.
And then it starts.
Half the team joins late.Stakeholders are distracted.No one knows who owns what.
The kickoff was treated like a checkbox.Not...
by Daniel Hemhauser —
Jun 24, 2025
cross-functional collaboration
pm soft skills
project planning
Leading Without a Playbook
How to Navigate Projects You’ve Never Seen Before
Read Time: 5 minutes
Some projects come with templates, best practices, and clear roadmaps.Others… do not.
You are thrown into something new:
A niche industry
A legacy system
A process no one fully understands
And somehow, you are expected to le...
by Daniel Hemhauser —
Jun 24, 2025
career growth
new pms
project delivery
You’re Not the Smartest in the Room—Good
Why Great PMs Don’t Need All the Answers
Read Time: 5 minutes
You've just been assigned to a new project.The engineers are seasoned.The analyst has been doing this longer than you.The client is a technical expert.
And you are supposed to lead them.
If you have ever felt outmatched by your own tea...
by Daniel Hemhauser —
Jun 23, 2025
pm soft skills
team dynamics
trust building
Not All Project Wins Are Loud
Why Quiet Progress Is Still Powerful Progress
Read Time: 5 minutes
You didn’t make a big announcement.There were no banners or high-fives.But the project moved forward because you made it happen.
You aligned the team.You de-escalated a conflict.You clarified the scope before it derailed delivery....
by Daniel Hemhauser —
Jun 23, 2025
pm soft skills
team dynamics
trust building
You Passed the PMP. Now What?
How to Turn a Certification Into Career Momentum
Read Time: 5 minutes
You did it.
You passed the PMP exam.You pushed through the prep, the pressure, and the late nights.And now, you’re officially certified.
But before you slap it on LinkedIn and move on...
Let’s talk about how to make that win ma...
by Daniel Hemhauser —
Jun 23, 2025
career growth
new pms
pm soft skills
When Priorities Change Midstream
How to Keep Delivery on Track When Strategy Shifts Under Your Feet
Read Time: 5 minutes
You built the roadmap.You aligned the team.You gained approval on the plan.
Then everything changed.
A competitor launched a similar feature.Leadership pivoted.Budgets got cut.The client reprioritized.
Now, wh...
by Daniel Hemhauser —
Jun 23, 2025
change management
pm soft skills
project delivery
The Silent Project Killers
How to Catch Unspoken Risks Before They Derail Delivery
Read Time: 5 minutes
The plan looks solid.The team seems aligned.Stakeholders gave the green light.
So why does something still feel off?
Because not all risks are captured in a RAID log.Some hide in silence, assumption, and misalignment.And...
by Daniel Hemhauser —
Jun 23, 2025
risk management
team dynamics
trust building
The Silent Saboteur of Projects
What Happens When No One Owns the Middle
Read Time: 5 minutes
The kickoff went well.The strategy was clear.The team is working.But something still feels… off.
Updates are happening, but they are not connecting.People are busy, but progress feels slow.Stakeholders are asking the same questions aga...
by Daniel Hemhauser —
Jun 23, 2025
continuous improvement
project delivery
team dynamics
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