202 : Why do 84% of Reorgs Fail? - Reorg Resilience Series with Chealsea Wierbonski

In this episode: Why do 84% of reorgs fail?, Building psychological safety, Managing fear responses, Creating clarity during change, Financial resilience with Chelsea Wierbonski 

Episode Summary 

In this episode of the Mindful Fire Podcast, host Adam Coelho sits down with career transformation coach and Group Product Manager at Google, Chelsea Wierbonski. Together, they explore the challenging landscape of organizational change, specifically focusing on why a staggering 84% of reorganizations fail. Chelsea shares invaluable insights on building psychological safety, managing fear responses, and creating clarity during turbulent times. They also discuss the importance of financial resilience and side hustles in navigating change. 

Guest Bio 

Chelsea Wierbonski is a career transformation coach and Group Product Manager at Google. With extensive experience in leading teams through organizational change, she empowers individuals to build resilience and thrive in their careers. Her passion lies in helping women in tech elevate their careers through neuroscience and inner work. 

Host Adam Coelho helps tech leaders land their reorg in 2-3 weeks instead of 6-9 months by rebuilding psychological safety and alignment to a shared vision. He created The Mindful FIRE Podcast in 2020 to explore the intersection two of his passions, mindfulness and financial independence. 

Resources & Books Mentioned • "The Simple Path to Wealth" by JL Collins • Mindful Fire Podcast Episode with JL Collins 

Guest Contact Information 

Instagram: Chelsea W

 LinkedIn: Chealsea Wierbonski 

Key Takeaways 

• Understanding Reorgs: 84% of reorganizations fail due to broken trust and lack of clarity. 
• Building Psychological Safety: Leaders must create an environment where team members feel safe to voice concerns and ideas.
• Managing Fear Responses: Recognizing and addressing the fear that comes with change is crucial for individuals.
• Finding Clarity: Clear communication around roles and expectations helps teams navigate uncertainty.
• Financial Resilience: Building an emergency fund and exploring side hustles can provide security during turbulent times.

🔥 Did you know that only 14% of reorgs are successful?

That means 86% of reorgs fail to achieve their goals. Shocking!

Honestly, after living through 11 reorgs in my last 10 years at Google it kind of makes sense.

I created the Ask What's Possible Workshop to help newly formed teams rebuild trust, create psychological safety, and align around a BIG shared vision in hours, not quarters.

🔥 Want to accelerate your speed-to-alignment?

Book a no-obligation fit call with me

🔥 What teams walk away with:

• Rebuilt trust and psychological safety
• A co-created, ambitious shared vision everyone is energized by
• Clear alignment between personal goals and team vision
• A short list of mini-experiments to generate momentum immediately

🔥 What makes this workshop different:

• Executive-level facilitation with a track record at CEO-level forums, including sessions with 27 Google VPs at Sundar's leadership conference
  • One VP shared: "Adam was masterful as he guided us through exercises to expand our perspective and ambition on our vision of what we could be and do."
• Neuroscience-backed, mindful conversation practices th...