Change Signal

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.

Katy Milkman, a Wharton professor and author of "How to Change," dives deep into the psychology of behavior change. She highlights that 40% of premature deaths result from choices we can control, offering insights on improving decision-making. Katy emphasizes the power of 'fresh start' moments and the importance of engaging the 'movable middle' in organizations to drive transformation. She also debunks the myth of positive visualization, advocating for pre-mortems to predict challenges instead. A fresh look at change management!

Pim de Morree, co-founder of Corporate Rebels, champions a radical shift in change management by prioritizing people over outdated models. He discusses how transformative processes can flourish through employee voting and participation, rather than top-down mandates. Pim emphasizes the importance of addressing the human side of transformations, likening it to 'group therapy' for teams. This approach has resulted in enhanced productivity and engagement. Ultimately, he argues for a thoughtful, experimental mindset that values connection as much as process.

If you lead organizational transformation, this will be your favourite podcast.Leading change in organizations is harder than ever. It’s complex, it’s unpredictable and it’s overwhelming. Change Signal cuts through the noise to find the good stuff that works.New episodes drop every two weeks. Sign up for our weekly newsletter at https://thechangesignal.com/==A welcome from MichaelI’m so delighted you’re here. Thank you.If you know me at all, you might know me as the author of The Coaching Habit.It’s become the best-selling book on coaching this century, Brené Brown called it “essential,” and Seth Godin said it is “the best book on coaching.”So what am I doing digging into organizational transformation? The truth is, I've spent three decades hunting for the best insights, strategies, and tools in change management. My journey started in innovation, working in an agency helping clients launch new products and services. It was a fun first job … but we didn’t make much of a difference.It’s true, I can boast playing a small role in stuff-crust pizza and in a whisky that’s been rated “the worst single malt whisky ever invented” … but mostly, we found it hard to get things done.Frustration with our low success rates led me to become a change management consultant. I did end up writing the vision for GSK when it merged, but mostly I learned that consultants don't always have the answers. Or at least, not the useful ones.I led an internal culture change initiative (with middling success), and then founded Box Of Crayons, where for more than twenty years we’ve helped major organizations harness curiosity as a catalyst for change.Along the way, I've seen some transformation projects succeed brilliantly, a few fail spectacularly, and many be … underwhelming.From digital transformations to mergers, from product launches to technology upgrades – I've collected a few trophies and a ton of scars.I’ve learned enough that I’ve had the privilege of writing the introductions to books by two of my big change influences, William Bridges and Edgar Schein.But I'm still learning. This field feels like it needs a shake up.There’s too much that’s bland, predictable, tired, colonized by the big consultancies, and outdated.I want to change thatI’m on a quest to bring you the good stuff that works. I want you to feel more confident and less overwhelmed, more influential and less stretched.Change Signal feels like the culmination of a thirty-year journey.I’m glad you’re here with me.~ Michael Bungay StanierPS - Sign up for our weekly newsletter at https://thechangesignal.com/