CDO Matters Podcast

CDO Matters Ep. 37 | Understanding and Navigating Change with Dan Everett

Nov 16, 2023

In this episode, Dan Everett, an expert in understanding and navigating change, discusses the challenges of driving change as a new data leader. He shares strategies for fostering fairness and engaging employees, explores the influence of culture on organizational behavior, and emphasizes the importance of questioning ingrained behaviors.

57:24

Creator website

Episode guests

Dan Everett

AI Summary

Highlights

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

To navigate change effectively, leaders should address individuals' triggers such as status, autonomy, relationships, and fairness, to alleviate threat responses and promote a more receptive attitude towards change.

Leaders must foster a data-driven mindset by addressing biases, promoting self-awareness, and modeling behaviors aligned with desired cultural shifts to challenge the prevalent belief of data inputs as 'garbage' and improve decision-making.

Deep dives

Understanding the Psychology of Change Management

The brain's response to uncertainty and threats plays a critical role in change management. The amygdala, responsible for resolving uncertainty, triggers fight-or-flight responses that can hinder change. To mitigate this, leaders should address people's triggers, such as status, autonomy, relationships, and fairness. Validating individuals' status, seeking their input, and providing freedom within a bounded context can help alleviate threat responses and promote a more receptive attitude towards change.

Why Change is Hard: The Brain's Response to Uncertainty

01:57

The Amygdala's Influence on Decision Making and Cognitive Bias

01:30

Introduction

3min

Exploring the Significance of Data Governance and MDM in Data Management

3min

Reflections on Understanding and Polarization

4min

The Importance of Listening

8min

Understanding and Navigating Change

18min

The Influence of Culture on Organizational Behavior

8min

Questioning Ingrained Behaviors

14min

Episode Overview:

Many CDOs are hired with the expectation they’ll become the ‘Chief Change Agent’ for their companies – helping to transform old and outdated approaches to data and business management to more digital, efficient, and scalable ones. On this mission many CDOs will most certainly encounter resistance at every level, requiring a deeper understanding of what makes change so difficult.

In this 37th episode of the CDO Matters podcast, join Dan Everett as he helps to explain why people are uncomfortable with change, and how modern data leaders can better lead their organizations through it.