Change Signal

Why Leaders Keep Making Change Harder: Margaret Heffernan

Feb 26, 2025

Margaret Heffernan, author of "Uncharted" and mentor to global CEOs, dives into the complexities of organizational change. She highlights why euphemistic language can derail transformation and encourages leaders to treat their teams as capable individuals. With insights from her time in tech and a captivating case study from Pixar, she illustrates how to foster a culture of creativity and agency. Heffernan’s no-nonsense approach reveals that constant change is vital for growth, challenging leaders to embrace rather than resist it.

27:52

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Episode guests

Margaret Heffernan

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Clear and honest communication about the realities of change fosters trust and helps overcome resistance among team members.

Encouraging agency and dismantling rigid management structures empowers employees to take ownership and drive innovation within organizations.

Deep dives

Navigating Change: Embracing Uncertainty

Leaders of change must acknowledge the inherent uncertainty of the future and actively guide their teams through this ambiguity. People tend to resist leaving their familiar present because it offers an illusion of control, making the transition to the unknown challenging. In this context, it is vital to encourage an open dialogue about the uncertainties that lie ahead, rather than allowing fear of the unknown to paralyze organizational progress. By fostering an environment where hints of emerging trends are explored, leaders can help their teams feel more equipped to adapt to the changes that may unfold.

Intro

2min

Navigating Change in Leadership

10min

Empowering Agency: Unlocking Creativity in Organizations

5min

Empowering Change: Robots vs. Rebels

6min

Rethinking Change Management

4min

Here's how to rebuild agency in change-resistant organizations, why euphemistic language kills transformation, and what we can learn from artists about embracing the unknown.

When you're trying to lead organizational change, it's easy to fall into the trap of infantilizing your people - treating them like children who can't handle the truth. Margaret Heffernan, author of "Uncharted" and mentor to global CEOs, challenges us to think differently.

Drawing from her experience running tech companies and advising executives, Margaret shows why most transformation programs fail: we've created management systems that turn people into robots, then wonder why they lack initiative. She shares a fantastic case study from Pixar that demonstrates how to engage your entire organization in solving complex challenges.

What I love most about this conversation is Margaret's no-BS approach to change. She argues that constant change isn't just inevitable - it's literally a sign of life. If you're wrestling with resistance to change or trying to figure out how to give your people more agency in transformation, this episode will give you practical insights you can use right away.

Change Signal. Cut through the blather, the BS, and the noise to find the good stuff that works in change management.

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Change Signal

Why Leaders Keep Making Change Harder: Margaret Heffernan

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Navigating Change: Embracing Uncertainty

The Importance of Honesty in Communication

Fostering Agency and Creativity

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts