Ignoring The Rules

About

Click on Follow to get the latest episodes - This is a podcast dedicated to reshaping how business projects are done in today’s fast-paced world. In a landscape where outdated methods and rigid processes hinder innovation and creativity, Wayne Robertson challenges the status quo with fresh, actionable strategies for success. With nearly 40 years of experience across all types of companies, he explores which project management rules still work, which need to be adjusted, and which should be thrown out. Focusing on the people behind the projects, this podcast emphasizes team creativity, well-being, and leadership that drives remarkable results. Get ready to break free from the past and create a new, dynamic approach to project management.

Episodes

• Leading While on the Edge of a Nervous Breakdown 2026-05-07

  Wayne Robertson challenges the idea that resilience in leadership means pushing harder. He explains that true resilience, particularly using gratitude, helps leaders maintain clarity and avoid burnout under pressure.

• The Silent War Inside Your Team 2026-04-30

  Wayne Robertson explains how small workplace conflicts escalate, damaging trust and projects. He advises leaders on addressing conflict early, fairly, and empathetically to prevent internal team destruction.

• The Real Damage of Toxic Leadership 2026-04-23

  Wayne Robertson discusses the negative impacts of toxic leadership on projects and employee morale on Ignoring the Rules. The episode covers identifying warning signs and advises on when to seek new opportunities.

• Your Manager Must Fight for You 2026-04-16

  Wayne Robertson explains on Ignoring The Rules that effective managers advocate for their teams by protecting them, fostering growth, and being honest. He emphasizes that a manager's willingness to fight for their team is crucial for retai…

• Clocked In and Checked Out 2026-04-09

  Wayne Robertson discusses how leaders can inadvertently kill workplace passion through bad meetings and poor management. He explains how to identify disengaged teams and offers strategies to re-energize them.

• Running on Empty: The Workplace Culture That Destroys Energy 2026-04-02

  This episode of Ignoring the Rules addresses the toxic workplace culture that discourages employees from using vacation days, leading to burnout. Host Wayne Robertson explains how taking time off improves performance and what leaders shoul…

• Workweek Power Plan 2026-03-26

  This episode of Ignoring the Rules features host Wayne Robertson advocating for a shortened workweek. He discusses how a 4-day week can enhance focus, energy, creativity, and execution, challenging traditional productivity notions and offe…

• Team Members Who Only Go Through the Motions 2026-03-19

  This episode discusses how to identify and address employees who are disengaged and only doing the minimum. It offers strategies for re-igniting drive, protecting high performers, and determining when to coach versus when to make a change.

• Negativity is a Killer 2026-03-12

  Wayne Robertson on the podcast Ignoring the Rules explains how negativity spreads in teams through small actions, how leaders can inadvertently encourage it, and how to combat it using energy as a performance strategy to improve team cultu…

• DPM: Oversharing at Work 2026-03-05

  This episode of Ignoring the Rules discusses Dramatic Personal Moments (DPMs) in the workplace, where deeply personal stories are shared during meetings and communications. It examines the impact of this increased emotional openness, espec…

• Hidden Gold - Uncovering High Achievers 2026-02-26

  This episode of Ignoring the Rules focuses on identifying and developing "hidden high achievers" - valuable team members who deliver results quietly. It explores how to recognize these individuals, unlock their potential, and grow them int…

• The Power of Passion 2026-02-19

  This episode of Ignoring The Rules discusses how faded passion in employees is a leadership issue, not a motivation problem. Host Wayne Robertson explores how leaders can identify and reverse workplace apathy to reignite passion, leading t…

• Great Careers Nobody Talks About 2026-02-12

  This episode of Ignoring the Rules discusses the often-overlooked career opportunities within small and mid-sized businesses. It explores how these companies can provide broader responsibilities, faster growth, stronger mentorship, and a g…

• The Moment That Breaks or Builds Your Team 2026-02-05

  This episode of Ignoring The Rules focuses on how leaders should handle employee failure. It emphasizes that a leader's response to an employee's mistake can either damage their confidence or serve as a critical turning point in their care…

• When Words and Actions Collide 2026-01-29

  This episode of Ignoring the Rules addresses the critical leadership failure where spoken values like care and respect are contradicted by actions, especially under pressure. It emphasizes that a disconnect between words and deeds erodes t…

• The Promotion Nobody Wants 2026-01-22

  The episode 'The Promotion Nobody Wants' from the show 'Ignoring The Rules' explores the declining interest in leadership positions. It highlights the difficulties leaders face, including being blamed for failures, managing hybrid work env…

• Time Blindness 2026-01-15

  This episode of Ignoring the Rules addresses time blindness, a productivity killer often mistaken for laziness or procrastination. Host Wayne Robertson explains how this cognitive issue can derail timelines and deadlines within teams.

• Pushing Back On The Boss 2026-01-08

  This episode of Ignoring the Rules discusses the risks and rewards of pushing back on your boss. It offers strategies for voicing opinions, handling disagreements, and knowing when to speak up or remain silent to protect your career and bu…

• Where Leadership Happens - The 1 to 1 2025-12-18

  This episode of Ignoring The Rules focuses on the critical importance of 1:1 meetings, arguing they are essential for leadership, building trust, and retaining employees. Host Wayne Robertson explains how effective 1:1s prevent issues and…

• Laser Focus: The Hidden Power That Makes or Breaks Your Team 2025-12-11

  This episode of Ignoring The Rules discusses the critical role of laser focus in team success. Host Wayne Robertson explains why focus is a key driver of project success, how managers can cultivate and protect it, and the negative outcomes…

• Empowering Your Team 2025-12-04

  Wayne Robertson discusses how effective leadership involves asking deeper questions and creating a safe environment for teams to share openly. This episode offers guidance on fostering honest conversations to empower collaboration and grow…

• Burnout: The Silent Team-Killer 2025-11-27

  This episode of Ignoring The Rules discusses burnout, defining it beyond simple tiredness and explaining its severe impact on team morale and productivity. It highlights burnout as a critical leadership test, offering insights on how to fo…

• Not The Smartest in the Room 2025-11-20

  This episode of Ignoring the Rules features Wayne Robertson roasting leaders who believe they are the smartest in the room. He argues that hiring people smarter than you is essential for good management and building a successful team, not…

• New Leadership Style 2025-11-13

  This episode discusses the obsolescence of transactional leadership, advocating for modern styles like agile thinking, empowerment, and collaboration. It provides guidance for leading teams and projects effectively in a rapidly changing wo…

• Becoming a Magnetic Leader 2025-11-06

  This episode explores the principles of magnetic leadership, emphasizing influence, trust, and authenticity over traditional authority. It offers actionable strategies to transform team performance and foster a thriving work culture.

• Spotting and Fixing Hidden Loneliness in a Team 2025-10-30

  This episode of Ignoring The Rules explores the issue of hidden loneliness within teams and its impact on morale and collaboration. Host Wayne discusses how leaders can identify and address feelings of disconnection to foster a more engage…

• Why Employees Leave Jobs 2025-10-23

  This episode discusses common managerial mistakes that cause employees to leave their jobs, such as overworking teams, lack of empathy, and blocking growth opportunities. It offers actionable strategies for leaders to improve motivation, i…

• Traits of a Great Manager 2025-10-16

  This episode of Ignoring The Rules discusses the traits of great managers, contrasting them with ineffective ones. It covers coaching, trust, communication, vision, and collaboration, offering humorous insights into leadership.

• Looking Back at Old Projects 2025-10-09

  This episode of Ignoring The Rules focuses on the importance of project reflection. It explains how project managers can analyze past successes and failures to improve future project outcomes, including refining processes and communication…

• The Power of Bad Decisions 2025-10-02

  This episode of Ignoring the Rules discusses how effective leadership involves recognizing the thought process and courage behind decisions, not just the results. It emphasizes turning mistakes into learning opportunities to foster growth…

• Light Up Your Team 2025-09-25

  This episode of Ignoring The Rules discusses the power of employee empowerment. The host suggests that leaders who trust, support, and give employees freedom to act will see increased passion, ideas, and energy, leading to transformative r…

• Saying The Wrong Words 2025-09-18

  This episode of Ignoring the Rules, hosted by Wayne Robertson, focuses on the impact of a manager's words on team morale and efficiency. It explores how careless remarks can be detrimental, while motivating language can build trust and ins…

• The Secret Weapon Managers Forget 2025-09-11

  This episode of Ignoring The Rules discusses positive encouragement and reinforcement as an underrated leadership tool for project managers. The podcast suggests that this approach can transform average teams into high-performing ones by m…

• Live With It 2025-09-04

  In this episode of Ignoring The Rules, the host discusses the damaging effects of the phrase "Live with it" in management. "Live with it" is identified as leadership malpractice that dismisses employee problems, erodes trust, and leads to…

• Your Team Needs to Bother You 2025-08-28

  This episode details Tom's journey of transforming his management style after his team staged an intervention. He learned active listening and servant leadership, becoming a more approachable and trusted leader, which resulted in improved…

• I Don't Need to be Trained 2025-08-21

  This episode tackles the arrogant and toxic mindset of uncoachable individuals who resist training and learning. It explores how this attitude harms teams and provides strategies to encourage a culture of continuous improvement and evoluti…

• I am not responsible 2025-08-14

  This episode of Ignoring the Rules addresses the toxic behavior of leaders who avoid responsibility. It explains why managers deflect blame, the negative impact on teams, and offers strategies to stop this cycle and foster integrity in lea…

• Phrases A Leader Should Never Say 2025-08-07

  This episode of Ignoring The Rules discusses phrases leaders should avoid, such as 'That's above your pay grade' or 'We've always done it this way,' explaining how they harm team morale and creativity. It encourages leaders to use clear, r…

• Remote Rockstars: Keeping Your Team Engaged and Essential 2025-07-31

  This episode of Ignoring The Rules focuses on building high-performing remote teams. It covers essential tools, tactics, and cultural elements needed to transform a scattered workforce into a synchronized unit, emphasizing that effective l…

• Crushing Projects With A Scattered Team 2025-07-24

  This episode challenges the idea that success requires an in-office presence, arguing that remote teams can outperform traditional ones. It offers strategies to build trust, improve communication, and maintain engagement among scattered te…

• Out With The Old, In With The Bold 2025-07-17

  This episode challenges traditional leadership playbooks, sharing how breaking ineffective rules led to on-time projects, energized teams, and tangible results. It highlights tactics used by fearless leaders to achieve success in chaotic e…

• How Great Managers Deliver 2025-07-10

  This episode of Ignoring The Rules features Wayne discussing how great managers handle workplace drama and conflict. Learn strategies for clear communication and keeping teams focused without unnecessary drama.

• From Frazzled to Fantastic 2025-07-03

  This episode of Ignoring The Rules focuses on achieving productivity without the associated stress. It offers practical techniques and tools for getting more done while maintaining well-being, and discusses how to manage or be a solution f…

• Great Bosses Ignite the Team 2025-06-26

  This episode explores the characteristics of effective leaders who inspire their teams and contrast them with detrimental leadership styles. It discusses how great bosses foster trust and innovation, while bad bosses lead to burnout and fa…

• Team Inclusion Transforms 2025-06-19

  This episode discusses how smart teams collaborate and crowdsource ideas, transforming team inclusion. It warns against excessive rule-following that can stifle innovation and shares strategies to encourage flexibility and better project o…

• Small Team - Big Impact 2025-06-12

  Host Wayne Robertson discusses how small teams can achieve significant impact by maximizing efficiency, fostering innovation, and leveraging creativity and collaboration. This episode offers strategies for teams working with tight budgets…

• Boosting Morale Is A Game Changer 2025-06-05

  This episode of Ignoring The Rules with Wayne Robertson focuses on effective employee praise. It distinguishes between weak, hollow compliments and impactful praise that builds loyalty, fuels motivation, and drives results, warning against…

• Gratitude Is a Game Changer 2025-05-29

  This episode of Ignoring the Rules explores how gratitude, often overlooked in management, can significantly boost motivation, morale, and results. Host Wayne Robertson argues that showing genuine appreciation is essential for an engaged a…

• When Managers Push Employees to Leave 2025-05-22

  This episode of Ignoring the Rules discusses how managers, through poor leadership and communication, often cause valuable employees to leave. It highlights that while losing talent is costly, these issues are fixable by creating a better…

• Servant Leadership 2025-05-15

  This episode of Ignoring The Rules features Wayne Robertson discussing servant leadership. It argues that serving your team is a more effective strategy for project success than traditional distant management, emphasizing that taking care…