Change Signal
Michael Bungay Stanier
If you’re leading change in organizations, this will be your favourite podcast.Change is harder than ever. Transformation is more complex, unpredictable and overwhelming than it’s ever been. Change Signal cuts through the noise to find the good stuff that works.Michael Bungay Stanier, author of The Coaching Habit and organizational transformation student for thirty years, talks to the best thinkers, senior leaders, and experienced practitioners in the world of change, to find what works, what doesn’t, and what to try instead. With Change Signal as your guide, you’ll be more efficient and less overwhelmed, and your change projects will more likely succeed.Change Signal: Where we cut through the blather, the BS, and the noise to find the good stuff that works. Sign up for weekly updates at TheChangeSignal.com
Episodes
Mentioned books
9 snips
Nov 5, 2025 • 30min
A Fresh Take on Courage for Change: Dave Ulrich
In this conversation, Dave Ulrich, a leading HR and leadership expert, dives into the complexities of change management. He highlights the 'knowing–doing gap' as a key barrier to transformation and emphasizes the importance of embracing failure and experimentation. Ulrich illustrates how great leaders navigate the paradoxes of leadership, balancing instinct with data, and boldness with patience. His practical insights on fostering courage and patience in leaders offer a refreshing perspective on the messy nature of organizational change.
10 snips
Oct 29, 2025 • 30min
Are You Your Own Saboteur? Kirstin Ferguson
Kirstin Ferguson, a leadership thinker and author of "Blindspotting: How to See What Others Miss," dives into the power of character over competence in leadership. She challenges listeners to embrace intellectual humility and curiosity, emphasizing that everyday interactions shape culture more than grand gestures. Ferguson advocates for asking better questions instead of simply providing answers and highlights how organizations can benefit from fostering a culture of seekers rather than knowers. Her insights encourage leaders to embrace uncertainty and flexibility for authentic transformation.
29 snips
Oct 22, 2025 • 29min
The Hidden Politics of Change Leadership: Dan Pontefract
Dan Pontefract, former Chief Learning Officer at TELUS and SAP, shares his insights on effective change leadership. He emphasizes that managing up isn't just about hierarchy but nurturing champions for change. Culture is the core of transformation—not a 'soft' topic—and purpose, balance, and generational shifts are essential. He advises leaders on building internal advocates, planning for post-change adoption, and measuring success by purpose rather than perfection. This engaging discussion is packed with practical strategies for transformative leaders.
34 snips
Oct 17, 2025 • 17min
Is Your Exec Team BORED of change? Probably. Kate Lye
In this engaging conversation, Kate Lye, a performance partner to CEOs and an experienced change leader, explores the critical role of executives in driving organizational transformation. Kate highlights the pitfalls of leaders defaulting to functional expertise while neglecting systems thinking. She argues for the necessity of personal change for effective leadership and warns against executive boredom signaling the decline of change initiatives. With insights on holding CEOs accountable, she emphasizes the need for proactive leadership to ensure sustainable transformation.
30 snips
Oct 15, 2025 • 30min
Does Insubordination Help or Hinder Change? Todd Kashdan
Todd Kashdan, a psychology professor and author of The Art of Insubordination, discusses the complex role of principled rebellion in driving change. He argues that early cooperation stifles cognitive diversity, which is essential for innovative solutions. Todd also reveals the personal costs of insubordination, including potential hits to well-being and relationships. He emphasizes the importance of amplifying diverse voices and detaching ideas from their originators to foster an environment conducive to meaningful change.
20 snips
Oct 8, 2025 • 30min
The Hidden Rituals of Change: Michael Norton
Michael Norton, a Harvard Business School professor and author of The Ritual Effect, dives deep into the world of rituals and change. He reveals that everyday rituals, like team lunches or Zoom emojis, shape organizational culture far more than top-down initiatives. Norton also introduces the concept of ambiguous loss, explaining its emotional complexities during change. He encourages leaders to blend past traditions with new practices to ease transitions, ensuring that meaningful elements of the past are honored while forging new identities.
42 snips
Oct 1, 2025 • 31min
The Four Change Friction Traps: Loran Nordgren
Loran Nordgren, a behavioral theory professor at Northwestern's Kellogg School, dives into why people resist new ideas and how to dissolve psychological friction in organizations. He reveals that framing change as 'evolution' rather than 'revolution' reduces resistance. Loran discusses four friction types that cause inertia and shares practical tactics like using email templates to boost engagement. He emphasizes addressing emotional anxieties directly to unlock potential and restore agency, challenging conventional wisdom on change management without the usual push.
47 snips
Sep 24, 2025 • 34min
Power Literacy for Change Leaders: Larissa Conte
Larissa Conte, a power literacy coach and organizational designer, shares her insights on the essence of power and its role in effective leadership. She defines power as the ability to move energy through systems and emphasizes the importance of focusing on possibilities rather than problems. Larissa explores the difference between shadow power, which creates dysfunction, and empowering energy that fosters growth. She encourages leaders to embrace their longings and expand their capacity for success, urging them to shift their focus toward creating positive change.
28 snips
Sep 19, 2025 • 17min
How to 3x Training Results: Chris Taylor
In a thought-provoking conversation, Chris Taylor, founder and CEO of Actionable, delves into the intricacies of long-lasting behavior change in training. He uncovers why high-stakes moments disrupt skill development and challenges the traditional training model. Chris advocates for daily practice over sporadic training, revealing that regular engagement in personal contexts can double success rates. His insights on shifting focus from situational to foundational practice could revolutionize how organizations embed new behaviors.
16 snips
Sep 17, 2025 • 20min
Why Curiosity Drives Change Capacity: Scott D. Anthony
Scott D. Anthony, a Clinical Professor at Tuck and innovation strategist, dives into the pitfalls of lost curiosity in organizations. He questions what stifles curiosity and explores the balance between comfort and chaos needed for effective change. Highlighting the remarkable transformation of DBS Bank, he emphasizes the power of a paradox mindset for leaders. Anthony provocatively challenges excuses like shareholder constraints as mere distractions from the real work of transformation, advocating for a culture of continuous learning and adaptation.
