OrgDev with Distinction

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Hybrid work was supposed to be the future - but is it really here to stay? While many people thrive in flexible work arrangements, major companies like Amazon, Boots, and JP Morgan are reversing course and ordering their teams back to the office full-time. So, what’s next for hybrid working? 

In this episode of the OrgDev Podcast, we explore the biggest challenges organisations face in making hybrid work truly effective. How can we design workplaces, teams, and strategies that embrace flexibility? And what role do HR, OD professionals, and managers play in ensuring hybrid work actually works? Joining us is Gary Cookson, a leading expert in workplace performance, HR, and organisational development. With years of experience in helping businesses navigate the future of work, Gary shares insights on what it takes to make hybrid work sustainable, productive, and people-centered

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!

Leadership is a constant learning journey, and one of the most powerful ways to grow is by being part of a network that both supports and challenges you.

This week on the OrgDev Podcast, we speak with Mark Emdin, board member of ODN Europe and Experienced Organisation Change & Development consultant, about the role professional networks play in shaping how we lead, think, and navigate change.

If you’ve ever found yourself solving tough challenges in isolation then this is definitely worth a watch. 

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 much of what happens in teams is shaped by forces we can’t see?
In this bonus episode, we sit down with Dr. Eliat Aram, CEO of the Tavistock Institute of Human Relations, to explore the hidden dynamics that influence leadership, teamwork, and organisational performance. Dr. Aram unpacks the role of the unconscious in shaping team interactions, introduce the BART model (Boundary, Authority, Role, Task) as a framework for understanding team dynamics, and shed light on what might be happening beneath the surface in group settings.

For over 75 years, the Tavistock Institute has been at the forefront of research and practice in systems thinking, group dynamics, and organisational development. In this conversation, Dr. Aram helps leaders and teams build self-awareness, decode organisational challenges, and apply practical strategies to navigate complexity more effectively.

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 week’s OrgDev podcast, we explore what Organisation Development can learn from Learning & Development with David Hayden. 

From Formula 1 pit stops to the importance of storytelling, David shares how L&D insights can drive organisational success. We discuss the role of mental models, the power of learning cultures, and how OD practitioners can apply evidence-based approaches to learning and change. If you're looking for fresh ways to connect L&D and OD for greater impact, this is a great episode to watch.

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 is job architecture? How can it support transformation? How do you help a company grow fast without losing what makes it special? What’s the secret to navigating big changes like merging teams or restructuring? 

💼 Jules Siegel- Hawley, Founder & Principal Consultant
Andes

Andes website:
https://www.andesadvisory.co/

Follow Jules on LinkedIn:
  / jules-siegel-hawley-msw-shrm-scp-52210274 

Follow Andes on LinkedIn:
  / andes-advisory-co 

Jules Siegel-Hawley is the Founder of Andes, a consultancy specialising in scalable, agile people infrastructure for high-growth startups and enterprises undergoing transformation. With deep expertise in organisation design, people strategy, and change leadership, she helps companies navigate complex transitions and rapid scaling while maintaining operational efficiency and a strong company culture.

At Andes, Jules partners with companies at critical inflection points—whether they are scaling rapidly, integrating post-acquisition, or restructuring teams. Taking an embedded approach, she and her team go beyond advising, offering fractional leadership and hands-on support to ensure people operations align with business strategy.

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 is psychological safety? It’s a term we hear often in organizations, but what does it really take to create it? Beyond the buzzwords and platitudes, psychological safety demands a deep, intentional commitment from leaders, HR, and OD practitioners alike. It’s not a tick-box exercise—it’s about designing environments where every individual feels safe and confident to bring their Authentic Self to work, every day.

We're joined by the brilliant Gina Battye.  Gina is the Founder and CEO of the Psychological Safety Institute and a global leader in workplace psychological safety. Known for her pioneering work in inclusion, belonging, and culture, Gina has revolutionised how organisations cultivate psychologically safe environments with her innovative methodologies, including the 5 Pillars of Psychological Safety and the Hierarchy of Psychological Safety.

💼 Gina Battye - Founder and CEO, Psychological Safety Institute
  / ginabattye 
Visit Psychological Safety Institute here:
https://www.thepsi.global/
Buy Gina's book "The Authentic Organization: How to Create a Psychologically Safe Workplace"
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Authentic-Or...

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 do we make our organisations sustainable? What is the role of HR, OD or Learning and Development in achieving this.  Our esteemed guest Dr Tara believes the  'people' people  of the business - HR, OD, Talent, L&D - have a critical role to play in saving the planet.

Subscribe to the Change By Degrees Sustainable HR course here:
https://changebydegrees.thinkific.com...

💼 Dr. Tara Shine, Change by Degrees
  / dr-tara-shine-15810413 

Visit Change by Degrees here:
  / changebydegrees 

Dr Tara Shine is a globally recognised sustainability expert, public speaker, and author, with a career spanning over two decades in climate change negotiation and environmental policy. She is the CEO and co-founder of Change by Degrees, a sustainability skills platform designed to empower individuals and organisations to make sustainability their superpower

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 makes a workplace truly fair?
How does our own sense of fairness shape our reactions to decisions, interactions, and how we treat others at work?
Fairness isn’t just a feel-good concept—it’s a critical factor in building trust, maintaining engagement, and driving performance. But getting fairness wrong can be costly. When employees perceive unfairness—whether in how decisions are made, how people are treated, or how rewards are distributed—it erodes trust, undermines morale, and fuels disengagement.
So, how can managers, HR and organizations apply fairness in their work to create a culture where everyone thrives?

💼 About our Guest:
Dr. Wilson Wong
Strategist, Futurist, Data Scientist, Wong On Work

  / wilson-wong-07b71a1 

Dr. Wilson Wong is a data scientist, futurist, and strategist with over 30 years of experience in applied research, focusing on leadership, culture, futures strategy, and human capital management within organisations. His work spans policy, investment, and academia, supported by expertise in data analytics and insights. He has worked with diverse clients, including the Metropolitan Police, Standard Chartered Bank, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), and international bodies such as the UNDP and UNEP, applying futures methodologies to enhance organisational resilience.

A Visiting Professor at Nottingham Business School and Adjunct Professor at Hong Kong Baptist University, Dr. Wong also chairs the International Journal of HRD Practice, Policy & Research. Formerly Head of Insight & Futures at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), he has influenced thought leadership at the European Association of People Management (EAPM) and the World Federation of People Management Associations (WFPMA). A UK human capital metrics expert to ISO and member of the UN Millennium Project global futures experts network, he co-edited Human Capital Management Standards: A Complete Guide and remains passionate about driving strategic, evidence-based change in organisations.

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 OrgDev episode, we explore the transformative power of polarity intelligence with Michelle Troseth and Dr. Tracy Christopherson, co-founders of MissingLogic, LLC, and pioneers in applying polarity thinking to healthcare and beyond.

How can we balance the needs of employees with the demands of the organisation? How do we navigate the tension between short-term wins and long-term sustainability? And how do we embrace innovative approaches for the future while respecting traditional, tried-and-tested methods?

In a world that often defaults to either/or thinking, we risk missing the opportunities hidden within the interplay of opposites. What if, instead of viewing these opposing forces as conflicts to resolve, we saw them as dynamic tensions to leverage? Polarity thinking offers a fresh perspective—one that helps us move beyond quick fixes and binary solutions to unlock untapped potential and achieve sustainable, productive outcomes.

💼 About our Guests
Michelle Troseth & Dr. Tracy Christopherson

Missing Logic
https://www.missinglogic.com/

Get Your Copy of their Book here:
https://www.polarityintelligence.com/

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 organisation design support an organisation with a big growth agenda? How can you leverage technology speed up design and make your organisation  more efficient? How can you use AI to create greater job automation and what are the pitfalls to watch out for? These are just some of the questions we ask Adonis Kazouris, Group Senior Organisational Design Manager, at SSP Group PLC in our latest podcast.

💼 About our Guest
Antonis Kazouris
Group Senior Organisational Design Manager, SSP Group PLC

Connect with Antonis here:
  / kazouris91 

Antonis Kazouris is a seasoned professional with extensive expertise in Organisational Design and Workforce Analytics. As Group Senior Organisational Design Manager at SSP, he has led global, large-scale transformation initiatives, including the development of global frameworks, the optimization of operating models, and the design of career progression strategies.

Prior to his role at SSP, Antonis gained significant experience in the consulting industry with Deloitte and WTW, specializing in Organisational Design, Employee Experience, and DEI strategy. He has delivered impactful insights and strategies to C-suite stakeholders across diverse industries, blending advanced analytics and technology with a deep understanding of organisational needs to enhance agility, efficiency, and employee engagement.

In addition to his professional work, Antonis is pursuing a Professional Doctorate in Evidence-Based Human Resource Management at Birkbeck University. His research focuses on the role of evidence-based decision-making in organisational design and its impact on effectiveness and employee performance. As an external researcher collaborating with King’s College London, he has contributed to advancing their DEI strategy and policies over the past three years.

Antonis holds a Master’s in Human Resources from the London School of Economics (LSE), underscoring his commitment to integrating academic research and practical application to drive meaningful change in organisations.

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