Small change: remember that people are good and kind

First published on
Mar 28, 2023

Writing Small Change Culture in companies Emotions at work Getting change done Happiness at work Leadership development 2023

All successful change is powered by optimism. After all, if you don’t believe in a better future, it’s hard to find the motivation to create it.

Nowhere is optimism more important than in your dealings with others. The all-too-common, pessimistic view is that people don’t like change, and will often try to thwart it.

When you encounter such behaviour, it is worth asking why. The answer is always simple and always the same: fear. Human beings are not hardwired to deal with ambiguity or uncertainty. And we tend to react badly when faced with circumstances where ambiguity and uncertainty are heightened. That is most change processes in a nutshell.

Be optimistic that if you identify and treat the root causes of fear, you will restore your people to their natural state: good, kind, and happy to help.

Something to consider: do we know what’s really troubling our people?

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Giving a team the inspiration and technique to scale ideas

“Brilliant, astute, knowledgeable, and witty.

Phil grasped our business challenge with incredible speed and led us to rethink how we do business.”

SARAH MASON – CMO, COSMOS

REPAIRING A BUSINESS-CRITICAL RELATIONSHIP

“I’m not sure, but Phil might be a magician.”

JULIE BISHOP – CO-CEO, IT NATURALLY

Getting change past the post in a complicated context

“Transformational for both my personal and professional growth.”

STUART WILLIAMSON — CHIEF CORPORATE AFFAIRS OFFICER, THE JOCKEY CLUB

Instilling accountability to help a great team do great things

“Real smarts, and the external perspective we needed.

We are now securing industry standards of margin.”

NEIL CRUMP – CEO, AURORA HEALTHCARE

COMPREHENSIVE STRUCTURAL CHANGE

“Incredibly responsive and empathetic to our specific challenges and ambition.

Phil inspired and challenged our leadership team to ensure that our transformation had our people at its heart.”

Darina Garland, Co-CEO, Ooni

Enabling a Board to work to its full potential

“His years of experience allow for a highly credible, disciplined and empathic approach.

Phil offers the right balance of push and encouragement.”

VIV HSU – PARTNER, JBI

Small change: remember that people are good and kind

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