Hey there, and welcome to "Change Is Hard," the podcast where we dive into the intricacies of change and its impact. I'm your host, Audrey Blair, and today I'm thrilled to have Chris, an IT professional in the aerospace and defense industry, joining me. In this episode, titled "Small Changes, Big Impact," Chris shares the inspiring story of how a change in leadership within her organization has led to a remarkable shift in employee engagement and work culture. We delve into the power of transparent and engaging leadership communication, the positive effects of incremental progress, and the potential for reproducible leadership behaviors. Join us as we uncover the transformative power of small changes within a large organization, and the ripple effect they create on employees' happiness and productivity.

Impact of New Leadership

• Introduction of a new CIO bringing positive energy and communication
• Change in mindset leading to increased engagement and happiness at work
• Significant impact of leadership changes on employees and overall operations
• Benefits of employee engagement, workforce efficiency, and attracting top talent
• Initial skepticism turning into enthusiasm for the positive changes and feeling valued as part of the team

Leader's Impact on Employee Engagement

• Leader's transparent and engaging communication style
• Warm and realistic vision for the company's future
• Acknowledgment of weaknesses while maintaining a balance between vision and realism
• Incremental progress toward clear goals
• Reproducibility and achievability of the leader's behavioral skills through practice

Organizational Change and Resonance

• Positive shift in energy and communication within the organization
• Impact on global operations and 50,000 employees serving government, defense, and commercial sectors
• Importance of engaging and empowering employees to support technology changes
• Employee enthusiasm for the positive changes, feeling valued as part of the team

Small Changes for Big Impact

• Personal experience of making small changes in behavior for a big impact
• Leveraging personal positive experience as a leader to coach others with minimal effort
• Emphasizing the strength of teamwork and valuing each member's expertise and viewpoint