December 2024 Content Wrap-Up

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I knew it was going to be a blockbuster month, and December did not disappoint. A conference in Stockholm, a webinar, dozens (literally) of interviews and panel discussions, site seeing in Prague, Vienna, Bratislava, and Budpapest, rotator cuff + bicep tenodesis surgery, and a medicated Christmas. And here I am trying to type with my right arm in a sling (2 weeks down, 4 to go) and so many stories to tell, but I just need to keep this brief and let the links and images do the talking.

Waiting for the ESPC24 keynote to startI’m off the road until March (might be a family trip or two in Feb, but we’ll see) but it’s already looking like a heavier travel year than 2024, and I’m ok with that. Still trying to do more remote, but there are some great events planned and some new content to break out, so the road beckons me once again. I’m already confirmed as a speaker for Comms vNext in Denver in April and the M365 Conference in Las Vegas in May, and I hope to be at all 3 TechCon365 events this year, as well as back at ESPC in Dublin in December. But for now, typing with 1.5 hands and sleeping in a chair. So much going on, though. Big plans for Q1. I’ll be blogging about it more later in the month when I have new links to share.

Until then, here’s my content from last month:

#ESPC24 in Stockholm

ESPC24 Community Reporters panelAs I’ve stated elsewhere, this is my favorite event of the year, and I’m grateful to be invited back each year to present in sessions, participate in the Community Reports group, conduct the official post-keynote interviews, and network with this amazing global community. I have a few more blog posts planned for January to highlight some of the sessions and keynotes, so watch for those.

  • #ESPC24 Takeaways [Blog]
  • Content Creation in the Era of AI [Blog]
  • Barriers to AI Adoption: Insights from Dona Sarkar’s Keynote at #ESPC24 [Blog]
  • The Art of AI-Assisted Writing: Blending Technology with Human Creativity [ESPC]
  • Building Scalable, Repeatable Feedback Mechanisms [ESPC]
  • ESPC24 Community Reporters [Blog]
  • Christian Buckley and Anthony Pounder [ESPC24 Reporters]
  • Christian Buckley interviews Chirag Patel, Laura Rogers and Marijn Somers [ESPC24 Reporters]
  • Christian Buckley, Chirag Patel, Magnus MÃ¥rtensson, Vlad Catrinescu & Karoliina [ESPC24 Reporters]
  • Christian Buckley interviews Chirag Patel, Merethe Stave & Nishkalank Bezawada [ESPC24 Reporters]
  • Post-Keynote Interviews with Jeff Teper, Dona Sarkar, and Paula [All 3 highlighted in ESPC24 Showreel]

Smarter Consulting Activities

Smarter Consulting webinar on Deploying Microsoft CopilotOne of my partners/clients is Smarter Consulting, working alongside my good friends Sharon Weaver, Galen Keene, Jonathan Weaver, Antares Leask, and Angela Jones. I’m providing fractional CMO support, as well as doing some consulting around governance and change management. We’ve been conducting monthly webinars, and have big plans for 2025 as the business continues to grow.

  • Webinar – Deploying Microsoft 365 Copilot [YouTube]
  • Embracing AI for a Competitive Edge [SC Blog]
  • Looking Beyond the Technical Migration [SC Blog]
  • The Power of Intentional Feedback [SC Blog]

CollabTalk Podcast

CollabTalk Podcast Episode 154 with Hussein HallakI’m excited to see my viewers/listeners growing each month, and plan to drop a couple articles in January to highlight the top guests/topics for 2024. I had hoped to get one or two of these posts live in December, but with the useless arm, it’s been difficult. For those who have not yet subscribed, please do so. About 1/3 of my content is Microsoft technology related, with the other 2/3 being executives and experts largely outside of the Microsoft ecosystem, discussing general technology and business practices that impact collaboration, organizational management, and leadership development. New episodes every Thursday!

Project Failure Files

Project Failure Files Ep.26 - Operational Support vs. Defined ProjectsSharon and I continue to crush it with new weekly episodes of the Project Failure Files (#PFF) every Monday at 9am Pacific, covering what NOT to do in project management. As we occasionally mention, we’re working on a book on the topic, and have more than enough content outlined or fully developed to continue doing weekly shows (mostly live) for the next 2 years or more. We’re launching a new website and newsletter (hopefully this month) to help support this growing show and community.

  • Project Failure Files: Not Listening to Stakeholders [Blog | YouTube]
  • Project Failure Files: Conflating Operations with Projects [Blog | YouTube]
  • Project Failure Files: The Cost of Ignoring the Process [Blog | YouTube]
  • Project Failure Files: Starting Without a Baseline [Blog | YouTube]
  • Project Failure Files: Moving Forward Without a Sponsor [Blog | YouTube]

Governance Framework

PragueThis series, launched in late November around Defining Purpose and Scope, was my primary content push for December. I introduced the framework in a TechCon365 Dallas session, and am developing a paid training course on the topic – as well as offering advisory services and governance consulting through Smarter Consulting, if you’re looking for help. The struggle with implementing a governance framework is rarely about technology, and this series provides an excellent overview of what it takes to make governance “stick” within your organization.

  • Governance Framework: Establish Roles and Responsibilities [Blog]
  • Governance Framework: Develop Policies and Standards [Blog]
  • Governance Framework: Create a Change Management Strategy [Blog]
  • Governance Framework: Implement Communication Plans [Blog]
  • Governance Framework: Establish Monitoring & Reporting Mechanisms [Blog]
  • Governance Framework: Regular Review & Continuous Improvement [Blog]
  • Governance Framework: Risk Management & Contingency Planning [Blog]
  • Governance Framework: Engagement and Culture Building [Blog]

Guardians of M365 Governance

BudapestMy monthly series with Ragnar and Joy continues to roll forth, this past month with a follow-up discussion with Sharon Weaver on the topic of the M365 Maturity Model. OIur next live show will happen on Wednesday, January 15th.

  • Summary of Guardians of M365 Governance Ep.12 [Blog | YouTube]

#MVPbuzzChat

Another weekly activity is my interview series with fellow Microsoft MVPs. We’re 5 away from hitting the big 300 episode milestone!

More music posts

Blue Plate Special - ArcadiaMy weekly music posts saw the inclusion (finally) of Duran Duran and Arcadia (side project of DD), with plans to keep this series rolling throughout 2025.

  • Blue Plate Special: Snowden [Blog]
  • Blue Plate Special – Gene Loves Jezebel [Blog]
  • Duran Duran Deep Cuts [Blog]
  • Blue Plate Special: Arcadia [Blog]

And the rest…

It didn’t feel right to post a podcast episode on Christmas, so instead, I wrote about Christmas.

  • Celebrating Christmas [Blog]
  • November 2024 Content Wrap-Up [Blog]

I think I got everything. My arm hurts. I’m going to lay down now…

Christian Buckley

Christian is a Microsoft Regional Director and M365 Apps & Services MVP, and an award-winning product marketer and technology evangelist, based in Silicon Slopes (Lehi), Utah. He is a startup advisor and investor, and an independent consultant providing fractional marketing and channel development services for Microsoft partners. He hosts the weekly #CollabTalk Podcast, weekly #ProjectFailureFiles series, monthly Guardians of M365 Governance (#GoM365gov) series, and the Microsoft 365 Ask-Me-Anything (#M365AMA) series.