Perspectives
Sharing what interests me
The power of persuasion.
Behind all effective communication is persuasion. The three rhetorical appeals that Aristotle described in the 4th century BCE are just as relevant today.
Storytelling vs. PowerPoint. Which wins?
Whenever I need to communicate something important, I try to turn it into a story.
Does change need marketing?
Before becoming a Lean Change practitioner, I spent a decade running a digital marketing agency.
I am an impacted stakeholder in a transformation programme – and I’m scared.
The programme is called ‘The New World Order’. It’s a large-scale transformation over which I have no control, yet it will dramatically change my life. I feel anxious, scared, and powerless.
Making meetings more enjoyable and productive
Yesterday I facilitated a Lightning Decision Jam (LDJ) with a client – one of my favourite ways to help teams solve big problems, fast.
Titanic II - Names matter.
A couple of years ago I joined a company that had previously launched a disastrous change programme called PURE.
Why relapse is a crucial part of behaviour change
Prochaska and DiClemente’s Stages of Change model – widely used in substance misuse recovery – has powerful lessons for business change.
Greatness: A must-watch for change leaders
What happens when you give control instead of taking it?
From business as usual to brave new work
A colleague recently said: “I think you’ll like The Ready". They were right.
What can change management learn from psychotherapy?
Imagine if your therapist called themselves a ‘Change Manager’, and you brought them in to manage the change you wanted in your life.
Successful transformation comes from within
This morning I went to book a ticket for the London Book Fair and was delighted to see the smiling face of my friend and colleague Charlotte Talmage from Uuna on the landing page.
The future of work is self-organising
I love this video from Selena Resvani. It makes me even more optimistic about the future of work not being based around hierarchy.
‘Workshopper’ – an ugly word for a beautiful concept
I love discovering new words, and today’s find is 'workshopper'. With thanks to Jonathan Courtney.
Lean Change skills: Listening
"Listening isn’t waiting for your turn to speak. Listening is the ability to make others feel heard. One of the ways to do that is to practice using these three statements when someone is telling you something"
Can change be managed?
For over a century, organisations have been treated as machines. Although complicated, they can be broken down, optimised, and controlled.
Is Lean Change the Future of Change?
Last week, a colleague of mine met with the Portfolio and Transformation Director of an innovative UK company with 5,000+ employees and asked him about change management opportunities.
What I’ve learnt from Frank (my dog)
Frank is a beautiful, gentle, loving companion who’s been by my side through thick and thin. But the biggest lesson he’s taught me?
Meetings are the tax you pay to do the work you want to do.
When teams try to collaborate on a project, it often starts well, but it quickly dissolves into chaos and inaction and the only outcome of each meeting is ‘let’s have another meeting’. Bad times.
UK Government adopts Lean Change approach
I’m encouraged to see that Test and Learn is being adopted by the UK Government in a bid to make the state “more like a start-up”. The Government has launched a £100 million fund to pioneer public service reform and deliver the Government’s Plan for Change.
What does Change Management have to learn from Van Gogh?
The Van Gogh exhibition at The National Gallery in London has just closed with 334,589 visits, making it the most popular ticketed exhibition in the gallery's 200-year history.
Self-Organising for start-up founders: Helping you do more of what you love
Founders of start-ups begin by doing what they love and what they are good at and loving what they do.
Lean Change – The 5 Universals – ‘Purpose Over Urgency’
This is the first of five posts – one on each of the 5 Universals of Change, created by Jason Little.
How talking circles are supporting a healthier masculinity
Yesterday, I launched Men Listening – safe, supportive and confidential online groups for men to share what’s really go on for them at work – and feel heard.
Men’s mental health in the workplace – is anyone listening?
Thirty years ago, while training to be a counsellor, I set up and ran a men’s group called ‘Men on the Hill’.
Self-Organising: What can start-up founders learn from bees?
The beekeeper forgot to put the frames in this beehive, so the bees were free to build a structure that worked for them. This had natural ventilation, so the air could flow freely and maintain a stable temperature, and it also produced more honey in the space available.
What is Lean Change?
Lean Change is an innovative approach to managing organisational change that combines principles from Agile, Lean Startup, and Design Thinking. Inspired by Jason Little's 2014 book Lean Change Management: Innovative Practices for Managing Organizational Change, this approach challenges traditional change management methods by prioritising collaboration, experimentation, and adaptability.
The Double Diamond design approach – it works wonders!
To design the right solution, you first need to understand the problem. Enter: the Double Diamond.
Using the Bridges Transition Model to manage business change
If you're struggling to deliver change in your business, understanding the Bridges Transition Model can help steer you in the right direction...
