Org Design Podcast

By Amy Springer, Tim Brewer, Damian BramanisBusiness Entrepreneurship Management

Org Design Podcast episodes

December 05, 2024 Humanizing Leadership: How Modern Organizations Can Build Trust and Drive Growth with Vinisha Rathod
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In this episode of the Org Design Podcast, Vinisha Rathod, founder of P3 Studios (People, Partnerships, Purpose), shares her expertise on organizational scaling and leadership development. She introduces her framework of "Five Hindrances to Scaling" which includes focus, family, financials, feedback receptiveness, and funnel efficiency. Vinisha emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between people and positions, particularly as organizations grow and evolve.
A key highlight is her discussion on creating healthy organizational cultures, drawing parallels between high-performing sports teams and effective workplace dynamics. She addresses crucial topics such as leadership transition, the challenges of title inflation, and the importance of having difficult conversations about organizational structure. Vinisha shares valuable insights from her experience working with companies across Australia and the Middle East.
The conversation also explores innovative approaches to organizational design, referencing examples from "Reinventing Organizations" and discussing practical methods for improving workplace communication and decision-making. Vinisha offers fascinating perspectives on humanizing the workplace, including the impact of bringing children and pets into office spaces, and how COVID-19 has transformed our view of leadership.
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26 min
November 07, 2024Clarity is at the Heart of Org Structure: Mastering Clarity Breaks with Lisa Cooper
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In this episode of the Org Design Podcast, Lisa Cooper, an experienced organizational design consultant, shares valuable insights on building effective organizational structures. Key takeaways include:
The importance of designing structures for the business rather than for specific individuals
The need to consider future goals when creating organizational structures
The value of clarity in leadership and organizational design
The benefit of taking "clarity breaks" to think strategically about the business
Lisa emphasizes the significance of putting the business and its mission first when designing organizational structures. She advises against creating roles for specific individuals, instead focusing on what the business needs to succeed. Lisa also highlights the importance of considering long-term goals, encouraging leaders to envision their organization 5-10 years in the future.
A key theme throughout the discussion is the power of clarity. Lisa borrows from Brené Brown's quote, "Clear is kind," to illustrate how clarity in strategy, structure, and roles can lead to amazing outcomes. She recommends that leaders take regular "clarity breaks" to disconnect from daily operations and think strategically about their organization and team.
The episode provides practical advice for leaders involved in organizational design, emphasizing the balance between strategic thinking and day-to-day operations. Lisa's insights offer valuable guidance for creating resilient, future-focused organizational structures.
Listen to the full episode to gain deeper insights into effective organizational design and leadership strategies.
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24 min
October 24, 2024 Aligning Teams and Decoding Resistance: Brandon Curry's Guide to Leadership
In this episode of the Org Design Podcast, Brandon Curry shares insights on organizational design and leadership.
Key points include:
- The importance of understanding roles and their interrelations in an organization
- Recognizing resistance as a sign of engagement and progress in organizational change
- The value of specific questions and conversations in gauging organizational health
- Analogies between organizational dynamics and music or sports teams
- Recommendations for resources on organizational design, including works by Kates Kesler and the Center for Effective Organizations
- The significance of participative design and including more of the organization in the process
- The application of continuous improvement methodologies like Lean and Kaizen in organizational design
Brandon emphasizes the importance of clear communication, understanding current states, and involving team members in the design process. He also highlights the value of specific tools and methodologies in approaching organizational challenges.
18 min
October 10, 2024 Scaling with Intention: How to Address Growing Pains in Your Organization with Alix Prassas
In this episode of the Org Design Podcast, host Tim Brewer interviews Alix Prassis, an organizational design expert and founder of Culture Elevation Consulting. Alix shares her unique journey into org design, from growing up in a family business to her diverse experiences in HR, learning and engagement, and DEI roles. She discusses the importance of proactive organizational design, addressing growing pains in scaling companies, and the common symptoms of structural issues in organizations. Alix emphasizes the need for leaders to look beyond quick fixes and consider broader systemic solutions, highlighting the value of strategic workforce planning and designing with culture in mind. The conversation also touches on Alix's role as an adjunct professor and her approach to helping leaders navigate organizational challenges
27 min
September 26, 2024 Moving Beyond Budget Cuts: Aligning Org Design with Strategy with Cynthia Escamilla
In this episode of the Org Design Podcast, Cynthia Escamilla, an experienced organizational design consultant, shares insights on effective org design practices. She emphasizes the importance of looking at the bigger picture when addressing organizational issues, rather than just changing roles or people. Cynthia advises leaders to focus on strategic goals and align organizational structure accordingly. She discusses common pitfalls in org design, such as mislabeling budget cuts as reorganization. Cynthia also highlights the iterative nature of org design, suggesting that leaders should plan for continuous adaptation. She explains her consulting approach, which includes diagnostics, co-creation of future designs, and implementation support. The conversation touches on the impact of AI and technology on workforce roles, emphasizing the need for organizations to consider how jobs may be augmented by new technologies in the future.
17 min
September 12, 2024 Future-Proofing Organizations: Joemmy Ramirez & Mary Selden on Internal Organizational Design Team Success
In this episode from the Org Design Festival, experts Joemmy Ramirez and Mary Selden, join Podcast hosts Tim Brewer and Amy Springer, explore the art and science of developing effective organizational design functions within large organizations.
They discuss unconventional career paths and innovative approaches to modern organizational challenges, along with the crucial elements for reshaping and future-proofing organizational structures. Joemmy and Mary provide invaluable advice for leaders, highlighting the importance of adaptability, strategic foresight, and the evolving role of technology in organizational design.
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28 min
August 29, 2024 Building Resilient Organizations: Steve Garcia on Navigating Effectiveness in Today’s Rapidly Changing World
In this podcast, Tim Brewer, Amy Springer, and Steve Garcia explore the evolving landscape of organizational design. Steve, who began consulting in 2005, emphasizes that org design encompasses more than just structure, including processes, culture, and informal networks.
Steve highlights how rapid technological changes, particularly AI, are making traditional leadership approaches obsolete. His company, Contemporary Leadership Advisors (CLA), assists leaders in navigating these changes, often when they feel overwhelmed by ineffective traditional practices.
The discussion touches on AI's impact on productivity and organizational connections. Steve advises leaders to start with a listening phase to understand challenges broadly before implementing solutions. He advocates for agile, iterative approaches to strategy and execution, moving away from rigid planning cycles.
The conversation concludes with insights on the necessity of continuous organizational adjustments to remain competitive in today's fast-paced business environment.
25 min
August 15, 2024 Impact-Driven Businesses and the power of Org Design with Kiersten Rippeteau
Kiersten Rippeteau discusses her journey into organizational design, starting from internal consulting in healthcare to external consulting in the construction industry. She emphasizes the importance of understanding organizational systems and human behaviors. Rippeteau highlights the need for clear strategy, values, and effective communication within organizations. She also touches on the impact of AI in consulting and construction, stressing the importance of maintaining a human lens. Rippeteau' firm, New Commodity, focuses on practical, impact-driven business models to improve organizational effectiveness and positive societal impact.
21 min
August 01, 2024 Designing product orgs of the future with Gary Cohen of Practical Agility
Gary Cohen, owner of Practical Agility, discusses his journey from software development to organizational design, emphasizing the importance of aligning incentives, fostering cross-functional collaboration, and focusing on customer outcomes. He highlights the need for continuous product discovery and learning to improve efficiency and effectiveness in product teams. Cohen also addresses the increasing demand for rapid organizational changes and the potential impact of AI on product development. He advises leaders to create group goals, provide autonomy to product teams, and maintain strong customer relationships to drive better outcomes.
22 min
July 18, 2024 Professor and Practitioner: Strategy, Power and Politics, and Curiosity in Org Design with Chris Worley
In this Org Design Podcast episode from the Organizational Design Festival 2024, Chris Worley shares his fascinating journey in organizational design. We explore the common signs of org design issues, the importance of strategy in effective org design, and the challenges of power and politics in implementation. Chris emphasizes the significance of curiosity, trust-building, and the role of leaders in fostering psychological safety during organizational change.
Tune in for insightful stories, practical advice, and a deep dive into the art and science of creating well-structured, adaptive organizations.
31 min

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Leaders share real stories from organizational (org) design, workforce transformation, and managing structure change. We highlight the challenges and breakthroughs seen first hand helping…