Summary

In this episode, Andy talks with Joe Ferraro, host of the One Percent Better podcast and a coach who helps leaders have stronger conversations when the stakes are high. If you lead projects, you know how quickly a meeting, a status update, or a feedback moment can either build trust or quietly drain it.

Joe shares small, practical moves that make conversations more memorable and more useful. You will hear why being "good at talking" is not the same as being good at conversation, and how preparation can be a generous act toward the other person. They also discuss how to avoid default, predictable questions, how to turn a one-way presentation into something more interactive, and how to keep your composure when you feel defensive. Joe even offers a simple technique for pressure testing ideas without starting a fight, plus a listening cue you can use the next time you feel tempted to jump in.

If you're looking for insights on having better conversations that save projects and strengthen relationships, this episode is for you!

Sound Bites

"And you know what's a great barometer there is for people listening to ask themselves on a daily basis? How many questions do they ask?"
"But the reality is a generous conversation is one where you're prepared."
"And the easiest path, the simplest path is to ask more questions and then listen, like your life depends on it."
"The human ear driving, or on the treadmill or in a board meeting doesn't want to hear the same length answer every time from Andy or Joe or Sheila."
"If you feel like you're bursting at the seams and you need to share something, that's when you know to hold it in and to focus on them."
"I teach people the technique of inserting devil's advocate, where you, you don't wanna necessarily become the villain, but you say, you know, Andy, you know, it's a great point."
"But when I go back to, to Mitch Albom one time, he paused seven seconds before I asked him, before he answered the question."
"If you have a recorded conversation, simply ask it to pull out every question that was asked."
"My favorite question to ask is the one that I think will elicit the best response for what I'm interested in learning in this moment."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
01:44 Start of Interview
02:04 When Conversation Became More Than Talking
04:32 Curiosity as a Practical Advantage
05:47 Sending Questions Ahead of Time
06:49 Why Most Real Conversations Feel Like Improv
07:40 A Recent Conversation Joe Still Thinks About
09:44 What Makes a Conversation Actually Memorable
11:14 How Joe's Background Shaped His Approach
12:47 Breaking the Habit of Predictable Answers
13:54 The Risk of Chasing "Standard" Questions
15:16 Using Recording as a Growth Tool
16:29 How to Build Better Listening Discipline
18:38 Turning a One-Way Presentation Into Conversation
20:12 What to Do When You Need Real Buy-In
21:44 The Listening Cue to Use When You Want to Jump In
23:34 Helping Others Feel Heard Without Hijacking the Moment
24:30 Staying Composed When You Feel Defensive
27:27 Using "Devil's Advocate" Without Becoming the Villain
30:15 When the Best Move Is to Pause
32:25 How to Ask Questions That Create Better Stories
33:43 The Question That Fits the Moment
36:19 What Joe Thinks People Get Wrong About "Small Talk"
39:12 Interviewers Joe Thinks More People Should Study
45:13 Using AI to Improve Your Conversations
49:20 What Joe Sees Changing in Communication Skills
50:00 Helping Kids Build Conversational Stamina
53:26 Where to Learn More About Joe
54:42 End of Interview
55:08 Andy Comments After the Interview
57:56 Outtakes

Learn More

You can learn more about Joe and his work here:

For more learning on this topic, check out:

Episode 380 with Monica Guzman. It's about navigating stressful conversations with people you don't agree with.
Episode 284 with Peter Boghossian. It's another episode on conversations that seem impossible. Think of difficult bosses and other stakeholders.
Episode 195 with Celeste Headlee. She's an NPR anchor who first introduced me to the idea of conversational narcissism.

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Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast!

Talent Triangle: Power Skills

Topics: Communication, Difficult Conversations, Active Listening, Stakeholder Management, Leadership Presence, Psychological Safety, Meeting Facilitation, Coaching, Feedback, Influence, Conflict Management, Relationship Building

The following music was used for this episode:

Music: Summer Morning Full Version by MusicLFiles
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Music: Energetic Drive Indie Rock by WinnieTheMoog
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

PPP 498 | Have Better Conversations: Small Moves That Save Projects and Relationships, with Joe Ferraro

People and Projects Podcast: Project Management Podcast

PPP 498 | Have Better Conversations: Small Moves That Save Projects and Relationships, with Joe Ferraro