Change Signal: Modern Change Management that Works

Find leverage points that yield disproportionate returns, study bright spots instead of just solving problems, and tap into existing motivation rather than forcing buy-in. Dan Heath is one of the smartest writers I know about change and transformation, and his new book "Reset: How to Change What's Not Working" explores systems-level change that complements the behavior change approach from his ear...

Emotions at work, agency in change, and turning bitter into better: these are the deep insights for what it takes to maintain enthusiasm for successful transformation. In my conversation with Cassandra Worthy, she shares how painful corporate acquisitions led to her developing the "Change Enthusiasm" mindset and framework she now champions. She challenges the consulting doomsayers who claim 70-95%...

Audit your change tools, map them on a 2×2 matrix, and discover your untapped breakthrough approaches. In my first solo episode, I share a practical framework for evaluating your change management toolkit — perfect for transformation leaders who want to boost their success rate. Inspired by my conversation with Carolyn Webb, I suggest creating a consultant's classic tool: a 2×2 matrix plotting usa...

Here's why auditing current commitments is essential before launching any new initiative, how to overcome our powerful bias toward maintaining the status quo, and what a 19th-century philosopher's fence teaches us about intelligent transformation. When leading organizational change, it pays to first understand what's already in motion. In this bonus episode, Caroline Webb, leadership coach, former...

When everyone else is adding, it pays to subtract. Seems simple enough, but it’s a strategy that’s overlooked and misunderstood, and change projects suffer because of it. Leidy Klotz reveals this blind spot we all share when looking to make improvements: we instinctively think about what to add rather than what to take away. Leidy offers practical approaches to overcome this bias, like incorporati...

Here's how to rebuild agency in change-resistant organizations, why euphemistic language kills transformation, and what we can learn from artists about embracing the unknown. When you're trying to lead organizational change, it's easy to fall into the trap of infantilizing your people - treating them like children who can't handle the truth. Margaret Heffernan, author of "Uncharted" and mentor to...

Fresh starts supercharge change initiatives, pre-mortems predict failure points before they happen, and the “movable middle” holds the key to transformation success. Ever notice how change initiatives start with a bang but fizzle by February? As someone leading organizational change, you’ve probably seen this pattern too many times. In this episode, I explore these challenges with Katy Milkman, pr...

What if transformation started with a company-wide vote, moved at the speed of experimentation, and put connection before process? Meet Pim de Morree, co-founder of Corporate Rebels and a leader who’s transformed over 100 organizations into self-managing powerhouses. His radical approach? No acquisition happens unless 80% of employees vote yes after a two-day deep dive into what’s coming. Here’s w...

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 Michael I’m so deli...