At Work with The Ready

26. Unweirding Change with Michael Bungay Stanier


Listen Later

Despite an explosion of frameworks, toolkits, and “best practices,” the success rate of organizational change hasn’t improved in over a decade. For all the decks, comms plans, and transformation initiatives being sold, most companies still find themselves stuck, repeating the same plays and hoping for different results.


This week, Rodney Evans welcomes back Michael Bungay Stanier—best-selling author, host of the new podcast Change Signal, and longtime friend of the show—who’s on a mission to cut through the noise and find what actually works. They explore why change still feels so weird, the real leverage points for shifting individual and organizational behavior, and whether it’s finally time to retire “change management” as we know it.


Get a copy of Michael's change quadrants he talks about in this episode here: Michael's quadrants.


Learn more about Michael:

  • Follow him on LinkedIn
  • Listen to his podcast, Change Signal.
  • Subscribe to his newsletter, The Change Signal.
  • Check out his website, MBS.works
  • See his two prior appearances on our show, BNW Ep. 19 and BNW Ep. 75.

  • --------------------------------

    Ready to start changing your organization? Let's talk! ⁠https://www.theready.com/working-together⁠


    Want future of work insights and experiments you can try delivered to your inbox? ⁠Sign up here⁠.


    Follow us on your favorite platforms for more org design nerdery:

    • ⁠LinkedIn⁠
    • ⁠Instagram⁠

    • --------------------------------


      Mentioned references:

      • Jason Fox's episode: AWWTR Ep. 17
      • John Kotter and the 8 Steps
      • Depthfinding and the "Zones"
      • Ron Heifetz
      • Immunity to Change, book by Robert Kegan and Lisa Lahey
      • Peter Block
      • Winston Churchill "We Shape Our Buildings"
      • Maslow's hierarchy of needs
      • Larissa Conte: BNW Ep. 151
      • Katie Milkman: Change Signal Ep. 2
      • Caroline Webb: Change Signal Ep. 5

      • Timestamps:

        00:00 Intro + Check-In: Do you have a non-work related goal that you’re working towards right now?

        9:59 Michael’s journey to un-weird change

        14:49 Michael’s individual and organizational unlocks for change

        21:24 Importance of strong foundational habits to succeed in change work

        25:37 Understanding of power dynamics in change work

        33:27 Outdated change mindsets to let go of

        38:38 Rodney and Michael’s takeaways

        40:28 Wrap up: Leave us a review and share the show with your coworkers!


        Sound engineering and design by Taylor Marvin of ⁠⁠Coupe Studios⁠⁠.

        ...more
        View all episodesView all episodes
        Download on the App Store

        At Work with The ReadyBy Rodney Evans and Sam Spurlin

        • 5
        • 5
        • 5
        • 5
        • 5

        5

        179 ratings


        More shows like At Work with The Ready

        View all
        On Being with Krista Tippett by On Being Studios

        On Being with Krista Tippett

        10,381 Listeners

        The Tim Ferriss Show by Tim Ferriss: Bestselling Author, Human Guinea Pig

        The Tim Ferriss Show

        16,065 Listeners

        The Knowledge Project with Shane Parrish by Shane Parrish

        The Knowledge Project with Shane Parrish

        2,633 Listeners

        Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

        Hidden Brain

        43,402 Listeners

        10% Happier with Dan Harris by 10% Happier

        10% Happier with Dan Harris

        12,535 Listeners

        How to Be Awesome at Your Job by How to be Awesome at Your Job

        How to Be Awesome at Your Job

        1,036 Listeners

        Revisionist History by Pushkin Industries

        Revisionist History

        59,354 Listeners

        Radical Candor: Communication at Work by Kim Scott, Jason Rosoff & Amy Sandler

        Radical Candor: Communication at Work

        708 Listeners

        Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel by Esther Perel Global Media

        Where Should We Begin? with Esther Perel

        14,781 Listeners

        Worklife with Adam Grant by TED

        Worklife with Adam Grant

        9,190 Listeners

        Hello Monday with Jessi Hempel by LinkedIn

        Hello Monday with Jessi Hempel

        1,028 Listeners

        The Josh Bersin Company by Josh Bersin

        The Josh Bersin Company

        51 Listeners

        Deep Questions with Cal Newport by Cal Newport

        Deep Questions with Cal Newport

        1,273 Listeners

        ReThinking by TED

        ReThinking

        609 Listeners

        The Freakonomics Radio Book Club by Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

        The Freakonomics Radio Book Club

        235 Listeners