On this episode, we make the case for why companies should favour an up-skill and redeploy strategy over redundancy. Dilli Ching, a Sydney based aviation contact centre management and transformation leader, joins us to discuss her experience in pitching workforce redeployment strategies to senior executives and implementing them successfully.

Key Takeaways:

• Think Beyond P&L: Shape a Forward Looking People Strategy
• Embrace Experimentation & Leverage Data  
• Get To Know Your People, Their Transferable Skills, and Hidden Talents
• Up-skilling Can Be Cost Effective in the Long Run
• Your Workforce Will Be Fiercely Loyal

Guest Information: Dilli Ching (view LinkedIn) is a Change Management MBA candidate with over 21 years of experience in contact centre management and transformation within the aviation industry. Her industry experience covers numerous airlines including Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, and Air New Zealand. She has previously held the role of global head of operations and commercial partnerships and also has experience in travel start-ups. 

Continue the Conversation: www.ChangeOutLoud.com

John Kotter, the founding father of change management, listed creating a sense of urgency as the first step to communicating change. However, change professionals often fail to take advantage of "burning platforms" or veer so far that they create a sense of doom. 

In this podcast, we discuss how to promote action vs. paralysis, taking advantage of crisis situations, and learning what to do (and what not to do!) from our peers in marketing.

"We do not follow maps to the buried treasure, and X never, ever marks the spot." Indiana Jones

In this episode, we explore the role of the "intrapreneur" who plays the role of the anthropologist while driving change in his or her culture. Discover what "artifacts" exist within your organization, as well as how to uncover what they mean for you. Myths, stories, and adventure abounds in this episode with Nancy Murphy.

www.csrcommunications.com
nancy@csrcommunications.com

Sometimes we're so eager to launch a new product that we forget to acknowledge the "in between." As the world moves towards more Agile ways of working, how can our change plans adapt to create psychological safety during the ongoing transition? Adnan and Kara explore.

The change community talks a lot about implementing new changes, but what if the change is all about letting go? In this episode, Kara and Adnan discuss the best ways to approach decommissioning work and what makes it different than a traditional change project.

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where your sponsor is either absent or non-existent? What do you do when your leader isn't there but you still have to deliver?

In this episode, Adnan and Kara discuss ways to navigate different change cultures, focusing specifically on what is in the control of a change manager (and letting go of what isn't!). 

Do you struggle with imposter syndrome, and it keeps you from speaking up in meetings? Is your project failing to engage stakeholders for fear of resistance? Learn how to leverage transparent communication for the benefit of your career, your team and project success, as well as leverage it as a leader.

Find AJ at
Twitter: @betrendsparent
Betrendsparent.com

What happens when people with big goals (but maybe no technical prowess) set out to make a change?  With tech at our fingertips, it doesn't take a lot of technical skill to make a big impact. Get inspired by Ashley Nichols as she shares stories from her book Tech to Save the World where everyday people used technology to transform a problem into a solution!

Buy Tech to Save the World

In this episode, Adnan and Kara discuss the definitions of culture (all four of them!), how to measure cultural interventions, and how long it really takes to embed a cultural transformation.

Learn about the ways that COVID has impacted women in the workforce and how we can all work together for a more equitable world.

LinkedIn: BrielleValle
BrielleValleConsulting.com

Do you get flustered or discouraged when it comes to resistance? In this episode, Adnan and Kara discuss their top 5 tenets for managing resistance, which will allow you to identify big blockers sooner and keep your project from getting stuck.

Sankar Vyakaranam joins Kara and Adnan to discuss simple productivity hacks we can incorporate into our everyday lives to regain control and power over our day. 

Topics Covered:

• Why turning off email notifications can be a game changer
• How to create the space to tackle tasks that require deep thinking
• The importance of building in wellness into your routine 
• Considerations for globally distributed teams

Learn why psychological safety pays dividends for organizations, as well as ways to measure it and redefine what you invest in to achieve organizational goals. You will be surprised at how this powerful tool can mean success...or failure... of your initiatives.

Reach Alex at:
ConductorSoftware.com
Alex@conductorsoftware.com

Are you communicating the right things at the right time? Or are your messages being lost or even creating more problems? In this episode, Adnan and Kara discuss the change curve and how to alter your communications to address your stakeholders' needs on the spectrum. 

Happy New Year! 2020 was a year filled with unexpected twists, turns and rapid change. In this two-part season finale we discuss how our world has dramatically changed since the events of 2020 and look ahead to 2021.

For us, a part of looking ahead involves looking back. In 2019, we were joined by Julia Mackay, who shared best practices from a successful vaccination program for the HPV vaccine in Scotland. HPV is the disease that causes cervical cancer in women. With the current COVID-19 vaccines undergoing approval and being rolled out, we have included this episode as it offers a change manager's perspective on the complexities of managing vaccine roll-outs.  

• Part 1: 2020 Reflections & Looking Ahead 
• Part 2: HPV Vaccine Campaign in Scotland (Starts at 11min)

We want to hear from you! 
Continue the Conversation: www.ChangeOutLoud.com

Are you having fun? Change is complicated but that doesn't mean you can't be creative and make it fun for everyone involved. In today's episode, Kara and Adnan discuss three ways Change Manager's can incorporate fun into their programs. 

• Gamification
• Celebrating Wins
• Laughing & Connecting with People

We want to hear from you! How have you incorporated fun into your work?

Continue the Conversation: www.ChangeOutLoud.com

In this episode, we discuss why accessible design must be top of mind for all change practitioners. Whether it is neurodiversity, a person living with color blindness, or a person who uses an alternate method of communication, our design decisions greatly impact how others are able to consume and understand our content. Key takeaways from this discussion include the following best practices:

• Differentiate Beyond Color Only
• Test Your Content with Accessibility In Mind
• Program for Accessibility Readers (i.e. Reading Tables)
• Add Metadata & Alt Text to Photos and Images
• Leverage APIs and Tools
• Upskill and Learn Best Practices

We want to hear from you! How are you incorporating accessibility into your design?

Continue the Conversation: www.ChangeOutLoud.com

COVID-19 has created unexpected downtime for many companies and their people. On this episode, we discuss how we can make the most of this downtime by investing in the skills that will be in high demand in 6-12 months. We are joined by Portia Nacinopa, a Hong Kong based training leader, to discuss opportunities. Key takeaways, include: 

As Leaders

• View Downtime as an Opportunity 
• Think Ahead: What Skills Will Your Workforce Need in 6-12 Months?
• Training Budgets: Don’t Cancel, Renegotiate Contracts with Vendors and Consider Online Platforms
• Partner with Your Training Teams to Plan & Execute 

As Individuals

• Ask Yourself: What Skills Do You Want to Invest In?
• Step Outside of Your Comfort Zone 
• Consider Joining Professional Associations 
• Take that Extra Step and Get Certified 

Guest Information: Portia Nacinopa (View LinkedIn) is a Hong Kong based training professional specialising in the design and delivery of technology training programs for legal professionals at internationally recognised law firms. Portia has held various roles in the technology, learning and development, and change management domains in the legal and financial services sectors. 

Continue the Conversation: www.ChangeOutLoud.com

Decision making can be time consuming and incredibly stressful. In this episode, we discuss the realties of decision making and a few easy to adopt best practices to avoid decision making fatigue. 

1. Plan for Plan B: Don't Be Over-Confident In How Things Will Go
2. Take a Learner's Posture
3. Eliminate the Unlikely Scenarios 
4. Add Science In The Form of Probabilities 
5. Get Comfortable with Asking for Help
6. Lean Into Your Guiding Principles 

Visit Our Website and Continue the Conversation: www.changeoutloud.com

Resources Referenced:
Hungry Judge Case Study: https://www.nature.com/news/2011/110411/full/news.2011.227.html
HBR: https://hbr.org/2018/01/3-ways-to-improve-your-decision-making
Learn Probabilities: https://www.khanacademy.org/math/statistics-probability

Amy Watson joins us to discuss the importance of mind, body, and nutrition, in recharging and building resilience.

Recharge Requires Intent & Purpose | A Positive Mindset is Key | Schedule Your Rest: Listen To Your Body & Mind | Find Your Zen: Rushing From One Activity to Another is Counterproductive | Everyone’s ‘Happy Place’ and Threshold for Resilience is Different | Food is Fuel: Balance Your Intake Based On What Your Body Needs

Continue the Conversation on www.ChangeOutLoud.Com

About Our Guest: Amy Watson is a Hong Kong based Liquidity Solutions Specialist for a major American Bank who balances a demanding career with her passion for fitness and nutrition. She holds a Crossfit Level 1 certification, competes in regional fitness events and is currently studying to be a certified nutritionist to help others live their best lives. View LinkedIn Profile 

Ian Barkin, an expert in Robotics Process Automation (“RPA”), joins us to share his insights and discuss the realities of implementing RPA in your organization.

Manage Expectations & Avoid RPA Exuberance | Automating a Bad Process Just Creates a Faster Bad Process | Establish a Center of Excellence (COE) that Understands the Spectrum of Stakeholders including within IT | Call in the Experts | Agile and RPA Can Coexist

View Ian’s LinkedIn Learning Courses & Podcast: Introducing RPA | RPA, AI & Cognitive Tech for Leaders | 'RPA is NOT about the Robot' Blog | OneTAKE Video Podcast

Continue the Conversation on www.ChangeOutLoud.Com

Let's Talk Digital: What is often lost in the digital transformation conversation is that with the right focus and approach, incumbent firms actually have a considerable advantage. In today's episode, we explore how incumbent firms can be successful in driving digital transformation.

Key Takeaways: Smaller Pilots Over Monolithic Programs | Focus on One Process & Iterate | Avoid The Metric Rabbit Hole | Engage Your People | Unlock The Power of Your Data with Diverse Teams That Bring a Unique Mix of Capabiltiies | Broaden Your View of the  Competitive Landscape 

Continue the conversation by visiting www.ChangeOutLoud.com

This episode was originally recorded under the Change Nerds brand. Please excuse any sound quality or hosting newbie glitches. 

"The Call Is Coming From Inside The House" // The Resistant Sponsor

In our first full length episode, self proclaimed Change Nerds Kara Sundar and Adnan Ali discuss ways to identify whether or not you have a resistant sponsor and techniques you can use to overcome obstacles created by these individuals. Resistant sponsor types covered include the Magnifier, Shiny Object Lover, Politician, Multi-Tasker, and Avoider.

We want to hear from you: ChangeNerds@gmail.com 

Originally recorded in May 2020: Today, we discuss popular internet memes making the rounds and why they are relevant and relatable in today's era of prolonged periods of working from home and COVID-19 related restrictions.

Key Takeaways: Be Open to Exploring New Ways of Working (Hint: Maybe the Meeting Can be an Email) | Check In With Yourself: What Do You Need To Remain Engaged & Motivated? | Be Kind to Yourself and Others | Find Structure In Your New Routine | Take a Break - Remember to Unplug

Continue the conversation on the Change Nerd Community, visit www.ChangeNerd.com
Email us at Kara@ChangeNerd.com or Adnan@ChangeNerd.com

In today's episode, James Clark joins Kara and Adnan to discuss Diversity and Inclusion. 

Key Takeaways:

• Value the hustle: Giving people opportunities to earn results. 
• Invest in training and education rather than hiring for polish. 
• Give people the freedom to pursue new ideas and you might be surprised at the outcome.
• Establish a compelling "Why" and be ready to create unbiased processes to reinforce your commitment to diversity and inclusion. 
• Not a one and done: We must continuously hold ourselves accountable to building authentically inclusive cultures, and not treat it as a checkbox exercise.
• D&I is both the right thing to do and an investment in your company's future.

How are your organization's embracing D&I? 

Continue the conversation on the Change Nerd Community, visit www.ChangeNerd.com

Email us at Kara@ChangeNerd.com or Adnan@ChangeNerd.com

Continue the conversation on the Change Nerd Community, visit www.ChangeNerd.com

In today’s episode, we discuss how you can set your business apart by recognizing and empowering your front-line staff during a crisis. 

Key Takeaways:

• An empowered culture is built over time
• Clearly articulate what concessions can be offered to customers
• Trust your teams to use their best judgement to solve problems
• Recognition will remain a valuable motivator 
• Be flexible and listen to your staff
• Maintain a positive attitude - it starts with you!

Have you had a great customer service experience recently? Let us know, email us at Kara@ChangeNerd.com or Adnan@ChangeNerd.com

COVID-19 has meant changing how we complete day to day work, and even how we live our lives and interact with others. A question Change Manager's are faced with: The initiative that was a key priority for my organization a month ago, is it still important today?

Continue the conversation on the Change Nerd Community (www.ChangeNerd.com)

Key Takeaways:

• Revisit your program risks and assumptions from the lens of a ‘post COVID-19’ world, do the assumptions still hold true today?
• Does your program still rank as a key priority when compared to the entire portfolio of initiatives for your organization?

Based on your answers:

• As change managers you will likely find an opportunity to pivot.
• You will want to proactively partner with leaders and sponsors to identify where you and your team capabilities can be redeployed to address the higher priority focus. 

This unprecedented situation is testing the very foundation of global work and will without a doubt reshape business moving forward. Continue the conversation on the Change Nerd Community (www.ChangeNerd.com)

Email the host: Kara@ChangeNerd.com or Adnan@ChangeNerd.com

Today we discuss how to provide clarity and direction during a time of crisis. 

Key Topics

Every Crisis is a Learning Opportunity 

• Navigating COVID-19: We are all writing the playbook together 
• Distributed teams are well positioned for this challenge 
• This is an opportunity to elevate your team and to show up as a valued partner

Communicate, Communicate, Communicate!
What you know and what you don't know. 

• Acknowledge this is not business as usual
• Be compassionate and flexible
• Listen to your people - what are they doing to collaborate outside of the workplace? Can those best practices be adopted in the workplace.

Leading with Integrity

• Recognise your own 'fight or flight' triggers 
• Remain solutions oriented - the situation is evolving rapidly, remember to reorient to your goal 
• Lead with integrity and build trust with your partners

How are you leading in this crisis? Let us know! Email us: Kara@ChangeNerd.com and Adnan@ChangeNerd.com  

In this episode, Kara and Adnan answer questions submitted by you, the listeners. There is also an exciting announcement about the 3rd Season of Change Out Loud which kicks off this March. 

Questions:
1. How did Adnan and Kara cross paths?
2. What is your favourite aspect of Change Management?
3. What is the most difficult aspect?
4. Why is personal resilience a topic you cover often?

What's in store for Season 3? Listen to find out more.

Talking Points:

Diane Wild joins Kara and Adnan to discuss her time with the healthcare system of British Columbia and the creation of "Change Day," a campaign emphasising the importance of small changes that lead to better patient experiences and outcomes.

Julia Mackay is an experienced communication, training, and change manager with more than 20-years’ experience across financial, local government, health, and retail sectors. She is passionate about people management, problem solving, and delivering results.  

On today's episode, Julia shares her experience in managing change for a critical vaccination campaign for the National Healthcare Service (NHS) in Scotland. She speaks candidly about the complexity of navigating multiple stakeholder groups and the many complexities of the project. 

What did you think? Email us at ChangeNerds@gmail.com

Change Nerds is now Change Out Loud! In the first episode of Season 2, we explain our name change and discuss social learning and communities with Brian Hampton, Ph.D., Founder & CEO of the ChangeNerd Community.

To stay competitive in today's career marketplace, professionals need live insights to understand next-level practices and opportunities. Social learning and communities of practice enable a robust network for actionable best practices and techniques change managers can leverage to drive change in the workplace.

Learn more about the ChangeNerd Community by visiting https://www.changenerd.com

Kara and Adnan speak with Senior Business Analyst, Certified Disciplined Agile Practitioner and Agile Coach Katiya Plummer on empowering managers and leaders to grow in their agile maturity.

Topics Covered:

• Moving away from “Command and Control” to Servant Leadership
• Building confidence in your team to make and take ownership of their decisions
• Getting comfortable with the idea of building a team that doesn’t need you 
• Self-Reflection: Do you prefer to be embedded in the team as a senior contributor or is your passion coaching? 
• Agile training is easy, embedding Agile into the culture is difficult 

What do you think? Let us know at ChangeNerds@gmail.com

Learn More about Katiya: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiyaplummer/

We are re-releasing this episode in honor of Canadian Indigenous Peoples day.  Learn more here! 

Sandi Boucher is an internationally recognized speaker, author, activist and advocate for Indigenous self-determination and reconciliation. Sandi joins us today to discuss the Seven Grandfather Teachings of the Anishinaabeg Nation, and how we can lean into them to inform our career choices, strategic life decisions and overall wellness. 

1. TRUTH (DEBWEWIN) 
2. HUMILITY (DABASENDIZIWIN)
3. RESPECT (MANAAJI’IDIWIN)
4. LOVE (ZAAGI’IDIWIN) 
5. HONESTY (GWAYAKWAADIZIWIN)
6. COURAGE/BRAVERY (ZOONGIDE’EWIN) 
7. WISDOM (NIBWAAKAAWIN) 

More About Our Guest: Sandi Boucher is a proud member of Seine River First Nation in northern Ontario, Canada. Sandi is a storyteller, with an expansive body of work including inspirational videos, motivational speeches, and is available for virtual & in-person seminars. Please visit www.sandiboucher.com

 Visit Our Website to Subscribe for Free and Continue the Conversation: www.changeoutloud.com 

“When the rate of change on the outside exceeds the rate of change on the inside, the end is near.” - Jack Welch

Kara and Adnan speak with change expert Carla Howard on tips and techniques to lead change through a digital transformation.

Topics Covered:

• False signs of change saturation
• Change is Constant: Building change endurance 
• Enabling your leaders to champion change 
• Implementing change with employees without email or computer access
• Non-digital approaches to digital transformations
• Celebrate
  
  

About Carla Howard:
Keynote Speaker | TEDx-er | Author | Mentor | Transformational Change Expert | Advocate for Professional Women

Certifications & Experience
Prosci Certified Advanced Instructor (PCAI), Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt (LSSMBB), Project Management Professional (PMP), Supply Chain Operations Reference - Professional (SCOR)

• Developed and executed the strategy for change management, communication (internal and external), and the leadership support model for Global Business Transformation initiatives.
• Coached leaders from frontline managers to C-level executives in methods for effectively communicating and championing change.
  
  Find Carla on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/theprofessionalwomansmentor/

Let's be real: we have all come across a sh*tty leader.

It's not completely hopeless though, in today's podcast, we discuss the realities of dealing with a difficult leader and techniques to identify if these leaders can be coached.

Key Takeaways:

• Don't immediately write them off
• Identify if the person is coach-able
• Know when to navigate around a sh*tty / difficult leader 
• Influence the difficult leader through a peer 
• Go a level above (note: this approach can be risky)

We would love to hear what your experience has been with dealing with a difficult leader. Email us at ChangeNerds@gmail.com

This episode has been edited to censor explicit language.

Kara shares a few insights from the book Immunity to Change by Robert Kegan and Lisa Laskow Lahey (see details below). 

"Our individual beliefs--along with the collective mind-sets in our organizations--combine to create a natural but powerful immunity to change. By revealing how this mechanism holds us back, Kegan and Lahey give us the keys to unlock our potential and finally move forward. And by pinpointing and uprooting our own immunities to change, we can bring our organizations forward with us."

Immunity to Change
How to Overcome It and Unlock the Potential in Yourself and Your Organization
By: Robert Kegan, Lisa Laskow Lahey
Audible | Amazon

Part 2 | The Change Nerds continue our discussion on Personal Resilience with our guest Tammy Debord.

Tammy is a California based Project Manager and early adopter of all things Agile and Change Management. Tammy has extensive experience implementing change in various sectors including academia, finance, solar, technology and the public sector. 

Key Topics Discussed:

• Being the "New Kid on the Block"
• Building Trust
• Span of Influence 
• Identifying Your Core Values & Establishing Boundaries
• When to move on 

"It's not you, It's the change."  | The Change Nerds discuss Personal Resilience with our guest Natalie Richardson.

Natalie is a Colorado based consultant who has spent the last 5 years leading, developing, researching and consulting on change management and organizational development. She is passionate about helping organizations improve their business results with an approach that is centered on building relationships of trust and empowerment with her clients.

Key Topics Discussed:

• The connection between the stages of grief and change 
• Managing change with empathy
• Techniques to pivot and manage through emotional outbursts 
• Setting your own boundaries 
• Empowering your team

The Change Nerds tackle how to implement an Agile Transformation. 

In this episode Adnan and Kara welcome their first guest to the podcast. AJ Hawley, a Business Analyst Consultant dedicated to helping organizations implement Microsoft Dynamics 365 and has been involved in aiding Agile transformations for the last 8 years is here today to share some of his experiences. 

This is a topic that will cover multiple episodes. What has your experience been? Let us know on ChangeNerds@gmail.com

Diversity, Inclusion and Change Management? // The Change Nerds Explore D&I

Change occurs at the individual level and all of us as individuals are different - be it our physical characteristics, cultures, beliefs, and values to name a few. How can change managers harness the power of diversity and inclusion to amplify change success? Our Change Nerds explore this topic in our second episode. 

This is an emerging topic and would love to hear more from our listeners on what your experiences have been. Email us at ChangeNerds@gmail.com 

Preview: For Change Managers By Change Managers

Self proclaimed Change Nerds, Kara Sundar and Adnan Ali, discuss the hot topics and realities of managing organizational change. In this preview episode, our 'Change Nerds' give this podcasting thing a try. 

And that's a wrap! The fourth season of Change Out Loud has come to a close. In this episode, we reflect on the past season and what we're looking forward to.

Do you find yourself getting stuck in the same traps at work? Maybe you like your company but not your responsibilities? This is a must-listen for you! Jennifer Chapman talks about the clarity you need to define your path forward, key decisions you can make, and what you can do to renegotiate your workload.

Want to know more?? Visit ambitionleadership.com to schedule a complementary session with Jennifer AND text the word "accelerate" to 411321 to get a free guide on making the most of your learning.

Are you making the most of your meetings, town halls, and trainings?  We have all been victims of poorly designed "gatherings" - places and spaces where people come together for a common purpose.  In this episode, Lindsey Caplan teaches us why gatherings go wrong, what it takes to design an impactful gathering, and what levers are available to us when we organize one!

Want to know more? Visit www.gatheringeffect.com! 

In this episode, change leader Lindsey Agness talks about the reasons someone might want to change but be unable to transition successfully (and what you can do about it).  For example, how do you connect people with the right motivation? Setting the vision, tapping into the emotional side of individuals, and taking some practical steps can lead to adoption and the right behavior change. Listen in for great tips!

Check out The Change Corporation today!

Want to make the most of your stakeholder engagement? This episode is for you!

Aneta shares her best practices for engaging stakeholders. Spoiler alert: it can be fun, appealing, and capability-building!  Learn how to organize your work so that your team can build trust, create the future together, and influence a more agile culture across the organization.

Check out Aneta's resources here:
Linkedin
Aedea Partners Website
Key-Zine Newsletter