Insights and inspiration for project professionals

In this new episode of PM Untold, we welcome Dr. Joachim Dehais , enterprise architect and leadership coach, to explore one of the most misunderstood aspects of leadership: politics.

The real skill in leadership is not avoiding politics, but navigating them with authenticity. In this conversation, Joachim explains why the most important decisions are often made in the grey areas, where influence matters more than formal authority and where relationships and trust shape outcomes.

Drawing on more than 15 years of experience, Joachim breaks down how soft skills and nuanced stakeholder management can turn conflict into collaboration. Rather than viewing politics as something negative, he reframes it as a natural part of aligning goals, interests, and people when certainty is scarce.

In this episode, we explore

• Why politics is an unavoidable part of leadership and decision making
• How influence works when authority is limited or absent
• The role of trust and relationships in navigating power dynamics
• How to turn conflict into collaboration through political intelligence
• Why volunteering is one of the best training grounds for developing influence, empathy, and patience

This episode is a must listen for project managers, PMOs, and leaders who want to get things done with impact and integrity, without compromising authenticity.

Listen now at pmi-belgium.be/podcast