OrgDev with Distinction

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Why does progress feel harder than it should, even when everyone’s working flat out? Why do good teams struggle to have the right conversations, make clear decisions, or follow through effectively?

In this episode of the OrgDev Podcast, we explore the invisible drag on performance: team misalignment. When people act on different assumptions, even the most committed teams end up stuck in confusion, slow decisions and fractured collaboration.

It’s not about effort – it’s about shared understanding. And alignment is what cuts through the fog. But alignment doesn’t just happen.

That’s why we’re joined by Lindsay Uittenbogaard, Founder of Mirror Mirror and a leading expert on team alignment, to discuss:

What alignment really means (beyond just agreement)
Why misalignment is often overlooked
How to make alignment a standard part of how teams work

If you’re leading change, running teams or supporting strategy delivery – this episode is for you

Go to the Mirror Mirror website:
https://mirrormirroralignment.com/

Follow Lindsay and Mirror Mirror on Substack:
https://mirrormirroralignment.substac...

Become a Mirror Mirror Practitioner:
https://mirrormirroralignment.com/get...

Wish you had a handy recap of the episode? So did we.

That’s why each week in our Next Step to Better newsletter, we’re sharing From Pod to Practice – a 2-page visual summary of each episode designed to help you take the learning from the podcast and into your work.

You’ll get:
 ■ Key insights from the episode
 ■ A reflection prompt
 ■ A suggested action

Sign up now to get From Pod to Practice delivered to your inbox each week: https://distinction.live/keep-in-touch/

About Us

We’re Dani and Garin – Organisation Development (OD) practitioners who help leaders and people professionals tackle the messiness of organisational life. We focus on building leadership capability, strengthening team effectiveness, and designing practical, systemic development programmes that help you deliver on your team and organisational goals. We also offer coaching to support individual growth and change.

Find out more at www.distinction.live 

We'd love to connect with you on Linked In:
linkedin.com/in/danibacon478
https://www.linkedin.com/in/garinrouch

We'd love to hear from you so send us a message!

Agile Leadership.  How do you build an organisation that can adapt – not just survive, but thrive?How do you define organisational agility, and why is it crucial for businesses in today's rapidly changing environment? 

Across organisations, Expectations keep rising, while resources don’t and change just keeps on coming. This week, we’re joined by Dr Linda Holbeach – researcher, author and leading voice in organisation development. Her book The Agile Organisation explores how businesses can become more responsive, innovative and sustainable – not through surface-level changes, but by rethinking leadership, culture, strategy and people practices. 

In this conversation, we talk about:

• What agility really means in today’s world – beyond the buzzwords
• Why resilience, adaptability and innovation are now critical capabilities
• The deep tensions leaders face between control and empowerment
• And what HR and OD teams can do to enable lasting, meaningful change

Buy Linda's books  here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B001IZPJ16/allbooks?ingress=0&visitId=3ff53028-63d1-4d26-bc22-4aa4426f753f

Wish you had a handy recap of the episode? So did we.

That’s why each week in our Next Step to Better newsletter, we’re sharing From Pod to Practice – a 2-page visual summary of each episode designed to help you take the learning from the podcast and into your work.

You’ll get:
 ■ Key insights from the episode
 ■ A reflection prompt
 ■ A suggested action

Sign up now to get From Pod to Practice delivered to your inbox each week: https://distinction.live/keep-in-touch/

About Us

We’re Dani and Garin – Organisation Development (OD) practitioners who help leaders and people professionals tackle the messiness of organisational life. We focus on building leadership capability, strengthening team effectiveness, and designing practical, systemic development programmes that help you deliver on your team and organisational goals. We also offer coaching to support individual growth and change.

Find out more at www.distinction.live 

We'd love to connect with you on Linked In:
linkedin.com/in/danibacon478
https://www.linkedin.com/in/garinrouch

We'd love to hear from you so send us a message!

Things change when our thinking changes.

So why do so many organisations still rely on outdated mental models to tackle today’s complex challenges?

In this episode, From developing foundational theories like DSRP and VMCL, to shaping national education programmes and training leaders across sectors, we’re joined by two of the most influential figures in the systems thinking world

This conversation explores what it really means to think systemically—and why it matters now more than ever.

Visit the Cabrera Lab website here:
https://www.cabreraresearch.org/

Buy Derek and Laura's books here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/Derek...

Subscribe to the Cabrera Lab Podcast here:
   / @cabreralabpodcast  

Wish you had a handy recap of the episode? So did we.

That’s why each week in our Next Step to Better newsletter, we’re sharing From Pod to Practice – a 2-page visual summary of each episode designed to help you take the learning from the podcast and into your work.

You’ll get:
 ■ Key insights from the episode
 ■ A reflection prompt
 ■ A suggested action

Sign up now to get From Pod to Practice delivered to your inbox each week: https://distinction.live/keep-in-touch/

About Us

We’re Dani and Garin – Organisation Development (OD) practitioners who help leaders and people professionals tackle the messiness of organisational life. We focus on building leadership capability, strengthening team effectiveness, and designing practical, systemic development programmes that help you deliver on your team and organisational goals. We also offer coaching to support individual growth and change.

Find out more at www.distinction.live 

We'd love to connect with you on Linked In:
linkedin.com/in/danibacon478
https://www.linkedin.com/in/garinrouch

We'd love to hear from you so send us a message!

How can we leverage what neuroscience experts know about the brain to design learning that actually sticks? If we know so much about how the brain works – why is so much learning still designed in ways that ignore it? 

In this episode, we’re looking into what neuroscience can teach us about how people and organisations really learn – not just in theory, but in practice. We explore how memory works, how we build skills and retain knowledge, and even the role of exercise in boosting cognitive performance.

Wish you had a handy recap of the episode? So did we.

That’s why each week in our Next Step to Better newsletter, we’re sharing From Pod to Practice – a 2-page visual summary of each episode designed to help you take the learning from the podcast and into your work.

You’ll get:
 ■ Key insights from the episode
 ■ A reflection prompt
 ■ A suggested action

Sign up now to get From Pod to Practice delivered to your inbox each week: https://distinction.live/keep-in-touch/

About Us

We’re Dani and Garin – Organisation Development (OD) practitioners who help leaders and people professionals tackle the messiness of organisational life. We focus on building leadership capability, strengthening team effectiveness, and designing practical, systemic development programmes that help you deliver on your team and organisational goals. We also offer coaching to support individual growth and change.

Find out more at www.distinction.live 

We'd love to connect with you on Linked In:
linkedin.com/in/danibacon478
https://www.linkedin.com/in/garinrouch

We'd love to hear from you so send us a message!

What does it take to scale a company without losing its soul? How can you grow an organization without losing the original ingredients that made it so successful in the first place? Our guest today is Tanya Lopez, VP of Strategic Organizational Development at reMarkable. Tanya and her team have played a pivotal role in supporting reMarkable's growth from 120 to 500 employees, shaping, its culture, and ways of working. They leading on strategic initiatives in organization design, leadership development and capability building.

Wish you had a handy recap of the episode? So did we.

That’s why each week in our Next Step to Better newsletter, we’re sharing From Pod to Practice – a 2-page visual summary of each episode designed to help you take the learning from the podcast and into your work.

You’ll get:
 ■ Key insights from the episode
 ■ A reflection prompt
 ■ A suggested action

Sign up now to get From Pod to Practice delivered to your inbox each week: https://distinction.live/keep-in-touch/

About Us

We’re Dani and Garin – Organisation Development (OD) practitioners who help leaders and people professionals tackle the messiness of organisational life. We focus on building leadership capability, strengthening team effectiveness, and designing practical, systemic development programmes that help you deliver on your team and organisational goals. We also offer coaching to support individual growth and change.

Find out more at www.distinction.live 

We'd love to connect with you on Linked In:
linkedin.com/in/danibacon478
https://www.linkedin.com/in/garinrouch

We'd love to hear from you so send us a message!

In this jam-packed episode of the OrgDev Podcast, we welcome the brilliant and boundlessly productive Dr. William (Bill) Brendel - award-winning OD educator, researcher, consultant, and founder of OpensourceOD.com. If you’ve ever wondered "What kind of OD practitioner am I?" or "How do I actually get into this field?" then this episode is for you.

Bill shares insights from over 25 years of global OD consulting and cutting-edge research, including his work developing the MOST (Mastering Organizational and Societal Transformation) assessment - the first psychometrically validated OD competency model. Based on thousands of job descriptions, this tool helps emerging and seasoned practitioners align their strengths and interests with real-world career paths, providing clarity in a field often marked by ambiguity.

We unpack the challenges of entering and navigating OD careers, from the blurry boundaries of OD roles to the messy reality of job descriptions that rarely reflect the true nature of the work. Bill discusses how Opensource OD is helping bridge the gap between academia and practice, offering a "dojo" for practitioners to build technical skills and reflective wisdom through immersive, real-world case studies contributed by legends like Ed Schein and Peter Block.

Other highlights include:

• Why OD is best understood as evolving practice rooted in a three-part test: social + technical + influence
• How social presencing theater and design thinking are being used in traditional settings
• The ethical dilemmas OD professionals face, and how reflective practice and “use of self” help navigate them
• How to thrive in a world of “permanent whitewater” with mindfulness and intentional learning

This episode is a goldmine for anyone shaping or shifting their OD path. Dive in and discover your next step.

Wish you had a handy recap of the episode? So did we.

That’s why each week in our Next Step to Better newsletter, we’re sharing From Pod to Practice – a 2-page visual summary of each episode designed to help you take the learning from the podcast and into your work.

You’ll get:
 ■ Key insights from the episode
 ■ A reflection prompt
 ■ A suggested action

Sign up now to get From Pod to Practice delivered to your inbox each week: https://distinction.live/keep-in-touch/

About Us

We’re Dani and Garin – Organisation Development (OD) practitioners who help leaders and people professionals tackle the messiness of organisational life. We focus on building leadership capability, strengthening team effectiveness, and designing practical, systemic development programmes that help you deliver on your team and organisational goals. We also offer coaching to support individual growth and change.

Find out more at www.distinction.live 

We'd love to connect with you on Linked In:
linkedin.com/in/danibacon478
https://www.linkedin.com/in/garinrouch

We'd love to hear from you so send us a message!

What if your organisation didn’t need a traditional hierarchy to thrive?
Are endless meetings, layers of approval, and rigid structures holding your team back? Could self-management be the key to unlocking greater agility, innovation, and trust?

These are questions we've been wanting to explore for a long time on the OrgDev Podcast.

In this episode, we’re joined by self-management expert Paul Jansen, who shares what it really takes to make self-management work – not just as a concept, but as a practical, sustainable way of operating. From decision-making without hierarchy to building accountability in a distributed system, Paul brings both clarity and experience to one of the most misunderstood ideas in organisation design.

Whether you're curious, cautious, or already experimenting with self-management, this one’s full of insight.

Wish you had a handy recap of the episode? So did we.

That’s why each week in our Next Step to Better newsletter, we’re sharing From Pod to Practice – a 2-page visual summary of each episode designed to help you take the learning from the podcast and into your work.

You’ll get:
 ■ Key insights from the episode
 ■ A reflection prompt
 ■ A suggested action

Sign up now to get From Pod to Practice delivered to your inbox each week: https://distinction.live/keep-in-touch/

About Us

We’re Dani and Garin – Organisation Development (OD) practitioners who help leaders and people professionals tackle the messiness of organisational life. We focus on building leadership capability, strengthening team effectiveness, and designing practical, systemic development programmes that help you deliver on your team and organisational goals. We also offer coaching to support individual growth and change.

Find out more at www.distinction.live 

We'd love to connect with you on Linked In:
linkedin.com/in/danibacon478
https://www.linkedin.com/in/garinrouch

We'd love to hear from you so send us a message!

What does good OD practice actually look like in action? How do you build your confidence in this field? What does it take to lead change effectively? If you’ve ever asked yourself these questions, this episode with Regan Miller for you. Starting a career in OD isn’t like stepping into a traditional profession. There’s no set path, no clear-cut job description that tells you what to do.

Regan Miller is a seasoned organisation design and development consultant working with public sector organisations around the world. Her career spans both public and private sectors, with early experience in training and development roles before moving into HR leadership and consulting positions within the U.S. federal government.  She is also co-author of 2 excellent books - The Accidental OD Practitioner and The Intentional OD Practitioner.

Wish you had a handy recap of the episode? So did we.

That’s why each week in our Next Step to Better newsletter, we’re sharing From Pod to Practice – a 2-page visual summary of each episode designed to help you take the learning from the podcast and into your work.

You’ll get:
 ■ Key insights from the episode
 ■ A reflection prompt
 ■ A suggested action

Sign up now to get From Pod to Practice delivered to your inbox each week: https://distinction.live/keep-in-touch/

About Us

We’re Dani and Garin – Organisation Development (OD) practitioners who help leaders and people professionals tackle the messiness of organisational life. We focus on building leadership capability, strengthening team effectiveness, and designing practical, systemic development programmes that help you deliver on your team and organisational goals. We also offer coaching to support individual growth and change.

Find out more at www.distinction.live 

We'd love to connect with you on Linked In:
linkedin.com/in/danibacon478
https://www.linkedin.com/in/garinrouch

We'd love to hear from you so send us a message!

Bias isn’t just an ethical issue – it’s a business issue. In this episode, we explore how recognising and addressing bias can transform both your organisation’s bottom line and the daily experiences of your people.

Our guest, Chris Garrison, brings deep expertise in workplace culture, behavioural science, and inclusion. She shares practical insights on how organisations can move beyond good intentions to create fairer, more inclusive workplaces where everyone thrives.

Bias costs businesses billions in lost productivity and turnover each year – but its impact runs deeper. From hiring and promotions to everyday team interactions, unchecked bias lowers morale, reduces engagement, and stifles innovation. So, how can organisations tackle it effectively?

Join us for a thought-provoking conversation that goes beyond the basics of unconscious bias training to explore real strategies that drive meaningful change.

Wish you had a handy recap of the episode? So did we.

That’s why each week in our Next Step to Better newsletter, we’re sharing From Pod to Practice – a 2-page visual summary of each episode designed to help you take the learning from the podcast and into your work.

You’ll get:
 ■ Key insights from the episode
 ■ A reflection prompt
 ■ A suggested action

Sign up now to get From Pod to Practice delivered to your inbox each week: https://distinction.live/keep-in-touch/

About Us

We’re Dani and Garin – Organisation Development (OD) practitioners who help leaders and people professionals tackle the messiness of organisational life. We focus on building leadership capability, strengthening team effectiveness, and designing practical, systemic development programmes that help you deliver on your team and organisational goals. We also offer coaching to support individual growth and change.

Find out more at www.distinction.live 

We'd love to connect with you on Linked In:
linkedin.com/in/danibacon478
https://www.linkedin.com/in/garinrouch

We'd love to hear from you so send us a message!

Why do organisations keep struggling with structure and workflow—despite endless change efforts? We redesign teams, introduce new processes, and roll out new tech, yet work still feels slow, frustrating, and full of roadblocks. Silos, unclear roles, and misaligned systems drain energy and waste time.

In this episode, we’re joined by Xin Yao, a Domain-Driven Design (DDD) practitioner, sociotechnical architect, and former enterprise architect. She helps organisations bridge the gap between people, teams, and technology—designing systems that actually work. If you’ve ever wondered why change efforts fall flat and what to do instead, this conversation is for you.

Wish you had a handy recap of the episode? So did we.

That’s why each week in our Next Step to Better newsletter, we’re sharing From Pod to Practice – a 2-page visual summary of each episode designed to help you take the learning from the podcast and into your work.

You’ll get:
 ■ Key insights from the episode
 ■ A reflection prompt
 ■ A suggested action

Sign up now to get From Pod to Practice delivered to your inbox each week: https://distinction.live/keep-in-touch/

About Us

We’re Dani and Garin – Organisation Development (OD) practitioners who help leaders and people professionals tackle the messiness of organisational life. We focus on building leadership capability, strengthening team effectiveness, and designing practical, systemic development programmes that help you deliver on your team and organisational goals. We also offer coaching to support individual growth and change.

Find out more at www.distinction.live 

We'd love to connect with you on Linked In:
linkedin.com/in/danibacon478
https://www.linkedin.com/in/garinrouch