Trust: Your Change Leader Superpower? Rachel Botsman
Learn why trust is contextual, resistance signals engagement, and successfully navigating change requires embracing uncertainty.
In this episode of Change Signal, I dive deep with Rachel Botsman, the world's expert on trust and Oxford University fellow, to explore how trust enables change — and how change can damage trust.
Rachel challenges us to identify our organization's "trust states" and segment our communication accordingly, just as marketers would.
What if those resistant employees aren't difficult, but deeply invested? What if your real trust influencers aren't who you expect?
I love Rachel's definition of trust as "a confident relationship with the unknown."
It elegantly captures the tension at change's heart and invites us to develop what Keats called "negative capability" — holding space for ambiguity instead of rushing toward false certainty.
For change leaders obsessed with acceleration and momentum, Rachel offers a provocative counterpoint: perhaps fragility, care, and patience need to become part of your change vocabulary.
Because as she memorably puts it, "Move fast and break things. Worst mantra ever. Don't break people."
Change Signal. Cut through the blather, the BS, and the noise to find the good stuff that works in change, transformation, and growth.
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28:51
Solo with MBS: Are you a Change drama queen?
Discover how a simple three-role model can reveal dysfunctional patterns, what your least-played role says about your biggest triggers, and which powerful questions can transform strained relationships during change.
In this LinkedIn Live, I dive into the Karpman Drama Triangle—a model I've used for 30+ years as both a self-management and change management tool.
We all play Victim, Persecutor, and Rescuer roles, especially when stress levels rise during transformation initiatives. The question isn't if you'll fall into these patterns, but how quickly you can notice and exit them.
Here’s a killer insight: The Rescuer might seem heroic, but this role creates victims and disempowers those around you. (Sound familiar?)
Listen to the full interview to find the three questions that can pull you out of the Drama Triangle.
Change Signal. Cut through the blather, the BS, and the noise to find the good stuff that works in change, transformation, and growth.
***
WHEN YOU’RE READY
🎧 A new episode every week (and sometimes two!)
📰The Change Signal newsletter. Short, practical, weekly
***
CONNECT
💼Connect on LinkedIn
***
SAY THANKS
💜Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
💚Leave a review on Spotify
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25:36
You Have to Work with the Resistance: Adam Kahane
Collaborating across differences, embracing unpredictability, and balancing power with love: these are the keys to transforming your organization's most challenging dilemmas.
Adam Kahane teaches us that meaningful change often demands working with people we don't agree with, like, or trust. He calls it "radical collaboration."
Think you need alignment before taking action? Think again.
Kahane's most counterintuitive insight is that you need far less agreement than you think to collaborate effectively. Simply connecting as fellow humans provides enough foundation to move forward together.
For change leaders navigating complex transformation, Kahane offers a powerful framework: integrate power (self-realization), love (unity), and justice (fair relationships).
Without this balance, power becomes "reckless and abusive," while love remains "sentimental and anemic."
Kahane's wisdom from transforming social systems — from organizations to entire countries — will challenge your assumptions about collaboration and control.
Change Signal. Cut through the blather, the BS, and the noise to find the good stuff that works in change, transformation, and growth.
***
WHEN YOU’RE READY
🎧 A new episode every week (and sometimes two!)
The Change Signal newsletter. Short, practical, weekly
***
CONNECT
💼Connect on LinkedIn
***
SAY THANKS
💜Leave a review on Apple Podcasts
💚Leave a review on Spotify
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25:51
Can Feelings Fast-Track Your Transformation? Cassandra Worthy
Emotion in business, slowing down to speed up, and regular check-ins that boost engagement—these are the game-changers for leading transformation.
In this short but powerful episode, Cassandra Worthy challenges the outdated notion that feelings have no place in organizational change.
Why do we still pretend emotions don't exist in the workplace? It's absurd—and counterproductive.
Cassandra argues that when we leave emotion at the door, we leave humanity behind too. Her research proves that engagement skyrockets when people can express their true feelings about change.
I love her counterintuitive approach: deliberately slow down at first so you can ultimately accelerate progress. Give your team space to process and contribute before charging ahead.
For experienced change leaders, this episode offers refreshing wisdom that cuts against conventional practice. Those regular emotional check-ins aren't just nice-to-haves—they're strategic tools for maintaining momentum through transformation.
Change Signal. Cut through the blather, the BS, and the noise to find the good stuff that works in change management.
🎧 New episodes every two weeks. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter at thechangesignal.com.
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5:48
What Are Your Top Three Decisions? David Lancefield
Create to inspire forward motion, link your work to winning, and clarify who makes what decisions—these are the power moves that can elevate change work from frustrating to focused.
David Lancefield brilliantly reframes "change" and "transformation" as words that trigger apathy or fear, suggesting we talk instead about creation.
When you lead change initiatives, David insists you trace a clear line from your project to how the organization will win against competitors and better serve customers. Otherwise, what are you even doing?
I was delighted by his practical insight on decision-making: most people with important roles can't name their top three decisions! Getting this clarity reduces bottlenecks and empowers your team.
Stop being the "downstream person" waiting for strategy to drop on you. Show your relevance earlier and pitch yourself into the process with "unbridled positivity."
Change Signal. Cut through the blather, the BS, and the noise to find the good stuff that works in change management.
🎧 New episodes every two weeks. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter at thechangesignal.com.
If you’re leading change in organizations, this will be your favourite podcast.
Change is harder than ever. Transformation is more complex, unpredictable and overwhelming than it’s ever been. Change Signal cuts through the noise to find the good stuff that works.
Michael Bungay Stanier, author of The Coaching Habit and organizational transformation student for thirty years, talks to the best thinkers, senior leaders, and experienced practitioners in the world of change, to find what works, what doesn’t, and what to try instead. With Change Signal as your guide, you’ll be more efficient and less overwhelmed, and your change projects will more likely succeed.
Change Signal: Where we cut through the blather, the BS, and the noise to find the good stuff that works.
Sign up for weekly updates at TheChangeSignal.com
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