Leading Real Change

Bringing a New Perspective to Workplace Culture: The Power of the Right Leader at the Right Time with Author Olivia Wagner

In this week’s enlightening episode with Olivia Wagner, the author of "Right Leader, Right Time," we delved into the fascinating concept of FABS leadership: Fixer, Artist, Builder, and Strategist. Here are the key takeaways from this informative discussion:

1. Fixer Leader: The Fixer thrives in challenging and chaotic situations. They don't shy away from troubled circumstances but instead embrace them, seeking to identify root causes and implement solutions swiftly. They excel at turning organizations around, making quick decisions, and constantly seeking the next challenge.
2. Artist Leader: The Artist Leader is driven by the act of creation and reinvention. They're the creative minds who envision new products, services, or innovative approaches. Organizations seeking innovation and a competitive edge should have Artist Leaders in their ranks.
3. Builder Leader: As organizations grow, they often hit a ceiling. The Builder Leader specializes in creating the necessary structure, systems, and processes to facilitate further growth. They empower their teams to build on the solid foundation they establish.
4. Strategist Leader: Strategists operate at scale and complexity. They put structures in place, mentor others, and focus on metrics to ensure that everyone understands their role in achieving the organization's goals. Strategists continuously look for ways to stay ahead of the curve.

Olivia also emphasizes the importance of listening and building trust, especially in troubled organizations. Good Fixers, for instance, ask meaningful questions and build trusting relationships. She also promotes a culture of mentorship and development, ensuring that leaders understand their role and contributions.

Additionally, Olivia shares a great leadership tip: avoid making big decisions on Fridays when team members may be preoccupied with weekend plans. This helps maintain focus and effectiveness during high-stress situations.

The importance of open communication and questioning is highlighted, with small group settings and discussions being effective tools. This approach ensures that everyone is aligned and motivated to move forward.

Olivia and her book advocate for building complementary teams where each member's strengths enhance the team's overall effectiveness. It's about focusing on what you do best and seeking help where you need it.

In a world filled with endless tasks and responsibilities, Olivia's wisdom encourages us to invest in our strengths, serve in our highest and best use, and create environments where complementary teams thrive.

Mastering Radical Candor: Building a Trusting Workplace Culture with Author Kim Scott

This week's episode features a fascinating conversation with Kim Scott, author of "Radical Candor" and "Just Work". We dive into the essence of candid communication and battling bias in the workplace. Here are the key insights:

1. Work-Life Synergy: Work and life are interwoven, each enriching the other. A harmonious blend leads to personal and professional fulfillment.

2. Radical Candor Unveiled: Radical Candor is the magic ingredient for open and honest communication. Care personally and challenge directly for strong relationships at work and in life. 

3. Feedback Philosophy: In feedback, aim to provide more praise than criticism. Praise fuels motivation, while constructive feedback fuels growth.

4. Bias Acknowledgment: Recognize your biases and prejudices. Awareness is the first step to eliminating them from your workplace. 

5. Public Corrections: Addressing bias publicly is uncomfortable but necessary. It establishes a shared norm for addressing these issues and promotes change.

6. Shared Vocabulary: Develop a common language to discuss bias and discrimination. A shared vocabulary paves the way for open and honest conversations. 

7. Compassion & Commitment: Create a workplace where compassion and a shared commitment to bias elimination are the norm. 

8. Feedback Desire: Cultivate a culture where employees actively seek feedback, understanding its value for personal and professional growth.

9. The Power of Storytelling: Share stories of bias recognition and overcoming. Stories build empathy and drive home the importance of change. 

10. Embrace Critical Feedback: View critical feedback as a precious resource. It's the key to personal and organizational improvement.  

Let's transform our workplaces into spaces where Radical Candor, bias awareness, and growth flourish. Together, we can create more inclusive, compassionate, and innovative environments!

Shattering Norms: Trailblazing Women Leaders Reshaping the Landscape of Business for Social Impact with Journalist Julia Boorstin

This week’s thought-provoking episode features Julia Boorstin, the author of "When Women Lead." Her reflections on the power of female leadership shed light on how women are changing the corporate landscape. Here are some eye-opening takeaways:

1. Work-Life Balance Empowers: Julia's ability to be both a dedicated professional and present for her children shows that work doesn't have to be all-consuming. It's about finding a balance that suits you. 🌆👩‍💼
2. Risk-Taking and Motherhood: Having kids can actually embolden individuals to take more risks at work. The decision to balance career and family can lead to a desire to make the most of one's time at work. 🌟👶
3. Distinct Identity Resilience: Maintaining a distinct identity outside of work makes individuals more resilient in the face of rejection or criticism. It allows them to separate work challenges from personal worth. 🌆🤝
4. Changing Leadership Landscape: Women tend to lead with qualities like empathy, gratitude, and a communal approach. These traits have a significant impact on team motivation and adaptability. 🤗💼
5. Outsider Perspective: Being an outsider to the system can offer a fresh perspective on its flaws and how to fix them. This can be a unique advantage for women who've felt alienated from opportunities. 🌏🔍
6. Driving Systematic Change: Women with insider experience and an outsider perspective often drive systematic change. Their ability to identify underlying problems fuels innovation. 🔄🌟
7. Business Value of Empathy: There's a true business value in understanding employees, customers, bosses, and investors. Empathy and interpersonal skills lead to better business outcomes. 📈💼
8. Elevating Women Leaders: Despite challenges, women leaders often yield higher returns, whether in startups or established companies. Elevating their success stories is crucial to changing perceptions. 💪👩‍💼

Julia's insights highlight the importance of diverse leadership styles and the undeniable value women bring to the table. Let's celebrate and support women leaders as they reshape industries and inspire change! 🌐🌟

Crafting Inclusive Workspaces: Enhancing Workplace Culture through Flexible Working Hours with Author Helen Kupp

This week's enlightening episode features Helen Kupp, author of "The Future of Work." Her perspectives on reshaping work dynamics are a game-changer. Here are some key takeaways:

1. Inclusivity in Idea Solicitation: Helen's question of how to gather more ideas and voices without forcing individuals to be overly assertive is pivotal. Creating an environment where everyone's input is valued is the way forward. 🗣️🤝

2. Work Built for All: Helen's leadership philosophy is deeply rooted in her own experiences of not feeling like work was designed for someone like her. She emphasizes the need for environments where every individual can bring their best self and ideas to the table. 🌟💼

3. Redesigning Work During COVID: The pandemic offered a unique opportunity to not just adapt work to a virtual environment but to fundamentally redesign how we work together from the ground up. 🦠🏢

4. The Value of Schedule Flexibility: Helen's research highlights that workers with schedule flexibility experience lower burnout rates and greater stress management. Flexibility isn't just about working from home; it's about reclaiming time and autonomy. 🕒🌞

5. Broadening Flexibility Definitions: Flexibility encompasses more than remote work; it's about schedule flexibility and trust in teams to manage their time effectively. 🤝🤖

6. Inclusive Decision-Making: When creating future work policies, it's vital to include input from across the organization. Ignoring diverse perspectives leads to disconnects in policies that impact the entire workforce. 🌐🤲

7. Redefining Connection: Contrary to the belief that offices foster connection, flexible teams often experience a higher sense of belonging, especially among people of color, women, and caregivers. 🏢🤗

8. Meetings that Matter: Helen advocates for reevaluating meetings and making them more purposeful. Utilizing frameworks like the "four Ds" ensures meetings are productive and relevant. 📊💬

9. Performance Measurement: Shifting from measuring hours worked to outcomes achieved is a fundamental change in the future of work. Goals, roles, and responsibilities become more critical in this outcome-oriented approach. 🎯📈

10. Focus on Creativity: Helen highlights that focus not only drives productivity but also creativity. Clear goals and a concentrated effort yield better results, both in terms of inclusivity and business outcomes. 🧠🌈

11. Rewarding Effectiveness: Prioritization and efficiency are key skills many possess but aren't always rewarded. Rethinking how we measure success beyond hours worked is essential. 🏆📅

The future of work is dynamic, inclusive, and driven by outcomes, not hours. Helen's insights encourage us to create work environments that value diverse perspectives and empower individuals to thrive. Let's embrace this transformation! 🌐💼

 

Empowering Change: Unveiling the Pillars of Effective Changemaking with Professor and Author Alex Budak

This week’s inspiring episode features Alex Budak, a true changemaker at heart. His insights on the power of collective change and resilience are incredibly motivating. Here are some key takeaways:

1. Changemaking is a Team Sport: Change isn't about any one person; it's a team effort. The most significant transition is shifting from "what can I do" to "what can we do as a collective?" Strength lies in collaboration towards meaningful goals. 🤝🌍
2. Resilience and Burnout: Changemakers often ignore burnout signals due to their unwavering drive for change. Resilience should encompass a holistic approach, recognizing the importance of well-rounded well-being. 🔄🔥
3. Changemakers Everywhere: Anyone can be a changemaker, regardless of their role or title. It's an inclusive identity that you can add to your existing one. A way to see the world and your role in shaping it. 🌟🌎
4. The Power of Vision: Vision isn't confined to CEOs or executives. Each of us can have vision, the ability to see what needs changing and the courage to disrupt the status quo. 🌠🔮
5. Courage to Stand Up: Being a changemaker requires courage. It's about saying, "I don't have all the answers, but I'm willing to try." This willingness to step into the unknown is a hallmark of changemakers. 💪🙌
6. Planning for Roadblocks: Proactive planning is essential. Anticipate challenges and seek support from a community of friends and like-minded individuals to bolster your resilience. 🛠️🤗
7. Confidence with Humility: Confidence is vital for a changemaker, but so is humility. Effective leadership combines confidence with the ability to bring others into the change process humbly. 🤝🙏
8. Values-Driven Work: Aligning with values is becoming increasingly important, especially for the younger generation. Businesses must consider their impact and values to attract and retain talent and customers. 🌐💼
9. Change the System: Remember, "Every system is perfectly designed to get the results it gets." If you want different outcomes, it's time to rethink the system. Be the change the system needs. 🔄🔍

Alex's message resonates strongly in today's world, calling upon each of us to step up as agents of change. Don't wait for permission; give it to yourself! The world is ready for you, and your actions can shape a brighter future. 🌈🌟

Unlocking Workplace Culture: Breathing Life into Your Values Through Behaviors with Organizational Psychologist Laura Hamill

This week's remarkable episode features Laura Hamill, a leading expert in driving cultural change within organizations. Her wisdom on nurturing employee wellbeing and enhancing organizational performance is truly transformative. Here are some key takeaways:

1. Organizational Support is Vital: Laura emphasizes that improving employee wellbeing is impossible without robust organizational support. This support spans from managers to top-level leaders, who actively encourage and prioritize it. 🌐🤝
2. Crucial Role of Culture: Culture plays a pivotal role in making wellbeing a reality within an organization. Sadly, culture is often misunderstood and left unaddressed, even though it's the number one priority for employees. 🏢💼
3. Culture's Abstract Nature: Culture is a complex and abstract concept, making it challenging to grasp and influence. It operates at an unconscious level, shaping our actions and behaviors without us even realizing it. 🤔🧠
4. Moving Beyond Surface Values: While articulating company values is a positive step, the real test lies in translating these values into day-to-day behaviors. Laura suggests the importance of behavioralizing values to create a tangible culture that's actively lived. 🙌🗒️
5. Career Progression through Culture: Behavioralizing values not only brings culture to life but also establishes a career ladder within the organization. It provides clarity on what it takes to become a manager or leader while staying aligned with the organization's culture and purpose. 📊🚀
6. Systemic Approach to Performance: Laura dispels the myth that hiring 'better' individuals solves all performance issues. In reality, 70% of performance variance is attributed to the organization's systems, not individual traits. 🔄📈
7. The Neglected Art of Job Design: Job design often takes a backseat in discussions, but it's a critical factor in employee wellbeing. Striking a balance between workload, expectations, and humane job design is essential for sustained performance and happiness. ⚖️😊

Laura's insights challenge us to rethink how we approach organizational wellbeing. It's not just about surface-level changes but a holistic transformation that empowers individuals and organizations alike. 🌈💪

Revolutionize Your Workplace Culture: Unleashing the Power of Systems Change with the Brilliant Mind of Emma Proud

This week's incredible episode features Emma Proud, an extraordinary systems change expert who is making waves as a consultant in international development. 🌍💡

Key Takeaways:

1. Empowerment for Change: Emma emphasizes the importance of empowering individuals to drive systems change, especially when the current system is failing to deliver. 💪✨
2. Understanding Systems Change: Don't be intimidated by the term "systems change"! At its core, it's all about the relationships between people – how we interact and why. 🤝🌐
3. The Power of Communication: We hold the incredible power to shape interactions through communication. Remember, how we communicate ripples out and shapes the entire world. 🗣️🌎
4. Creating Transformative Connections: Building connections can lead to something even greater than those connections themselves. By changing the dynamics through shared stories, we're changing the system. 📚🔄
5. Unveiling Hidden Drivers: Often, the driving forces behind a system remain hidden until we confront them due to our beliefs not aligning. Uncover and address these hidden factors. 🔍🧠
6. Nudging Positive Behaviors: Even when facing resistance, we can encourage adaptive behaviors, understanding complexity, and experimentation to drive positive change. 🔄🔓
7. Imagine the New System: Envision a new system built on shared learning, collaboration, and confidence-building. Together, we can create a ripple effect that inspires others to join in. 🌱🌊
8. Navigating Change with Care: Emma emphasizes the need to guide people through change, acknowledging the challenges and reassuring them that the day-to-day continues. 🌈🤗
9. Honoring Existing Contributions: In the midst of change, let's not forget to honor the existing accomplishments, relationships, and efforts that have shaped the current system. 🙏🏽❤️
10. Embracing Creativity: To foster collaboration, playfulness, and experimentation in the new system, improv comedy serves as a fantastic tool. Let's envision a more exciting future together! 🎭🎉
11. Finding Purpose Through Connection: Feeling connected to the systems we're part of adds purpose and meaning to our endeavors. Let's strive for this deeper connection. 🌟🤝

This podcast episode is an eye-opener, inviting us to not just observe but actively participate in driving positive systems change. Emma's insights and expertise provide a roadmap for shaping a better world. 🌐🚀

Listen to the full episode and get inspired to be an agent of change!

Embarking on the Leading Real Change Journey: Welcome to the Podcast with Host Dr. Jacqueline Kerr

To launch this podcast, I share a little about my journey to becoming an expert in building thriving workplaces for all.

In future weeks, I’ll be interviewing dedicated and passionate Changemakers including thought leaders who have written books about workplace change and CEOs and leaders who are working everyday to improve workplaces for their employees.

In this episode, I share some evidence based approaches to overcoming typical problems you face as a leader of workplace culture change including: your own health as a leader, building trust with your employees, fear of change, being stuck in the past, complex social issues, making progress, getting more support, resistance to change, making change long term.

To learn more visit www.leading-real-change.com