What Your Team Isn’t Telling You—And Why It’s Holding Everyone Back
Mar 25, 2025
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Melina Palmer, an applied behavioral economist and author, dives into the unspoken needs of employees and the barriers to effective communication. She emphasizes the role of behavioral economics in facilitating negotiations and leading change. Melina shares how understanding brain reactions to change can help leaders guide their teams better. Additionally, she highlights the power of small daily decisions and effective communication techniques in enhancing team dynamics and fostering a culture of transparency.
Real change in organizations is driven by daily micro-decisions rather than major events, highlighting the need for leaders to understand behavioral economics.
Effective communication of change as an opportunity is crucial for reducing employee resistance and fostering a collaborative work environment.
Deep dives
Understanding Change Through Behavioral Economics
The podcast discusses how individuals and organizations often misinterpret the nature of change, viewing it as something that only occurs during significant events like mergers or rebranding. However, it emphasizes that real change happens in the countless micro-decisions people make daily, which can cumulatively affect workplace dynamics. By leveraging insights from behavioral economics, leaders can navigate these small change opportunities to create a more brain-friendly environment. Recognizing that each employee makes around 35,000 decisions a day, the conversation stresses the importance of framing change in a way that aligns with human psychology, enabling more effective adaptation.
Reframing Communication to Facilitate Change
Effective change management hinges on how information is communicated to employees, rather than the change itself. By presenting change as an opportunity and engaging individuals with open-ended questions, leaders can foster a positive atmosphere that reduces resistance. The podcast highlights the pitfalls of traditional communication methods that inadvertently convey negativity, such as emphasizing losses instead of gains. Transforming the narrative around change ensures that employees feel valued and involved, making it easier for them to embrace new initiatives.
The Role of Managerial Talent in Change Implementation
A significant insight from the episode reveals that a large proportion of managers may lack the innate skills required for effective leadership, with studies suggesting that only one in ten individuals has the natural talent to be a successful manager. This creates a challenge for organizations as many managers are promoted based on tenure rather than capability. The podcast advocates for a more thoughtful approach to leadership, encouraging organizations to recognize and nurture potential leaders among their teams. By understanding the principles of behavioral economics, even those who may not fall into the 'natural talent' category can improve their leadership skills and foster a culture of positive change.
Most employees want to do a good job but they don't always know how to tell you what they need. In this episode, Melina Palmer Applied Behaviour Economist, author, and host of the podcast The Brainy Business explains the things your employees need from you that they can't always tell you. She also provides tips on how to break down barriers to change and create micro-habits that will help your team succeed.