“I’ve been asking myself the question, ‘Why are you doing that?’ since I was about four,” says Amanda Woolley. As an organizational development (OD) consultant and facilitator, she seems to have found the right profession. Amanda began her career with NHS England, eventually becoming the System Leadership Development Senior Manager before working as a consultant. Ironically, she initially rejected the notion that she was an “OD person,” not being entirely sure what the requirements were.

In Lou and Amanda’s discussion, she reflects on her journey into OD. She explains that OD focuses on helping teams step back and evaluate how they work together, addressing the complexities and “weirdness” that can emerge in workplace dynamics. They discuss the ideal environment for creating effective change in an organization, emphasizing the importance of neutrality, creativity, and ownership.

Amanda shares a personal story about being a caregiver at a young age for her ill mother. She reflects, “My best experiences in healthcare are when people have broken the rules.” Today, she brings stakeholders together so that procedures can be rewritten to make protocols efficient and effective for all involved—and she’ll bring her experience and OD perspective to her panel at Advancing Service Design 2024 (virtual, December 3-4).

What You'll Learn from this Episode:

- The purpose of Organizational Development and who typically does it

Common “weird” challenges organizations face

- When and why organizations should bring in consultants, like OD specialists, to provide a neutral perspective and facilitate better communication and problem-solving

- Amanda’s career path and the rich experiences that inform her work today

Quick Reference Guide:

0:14 - Meet Amanda

1:50 - Systems and organizational development share a focus on frameworks and language

5:08 - What is organizational development, and who does it?

6:24 - Being aware of what’s weird and doing something about it

9:43 - The triggers that expose the need for an organizational development specialist

14:21 - Creating space that invites change and creativity

17:15 - 5 things about the Rosenverse

19:53 - How Amanda’s experience with the National Health Services in the UK has influenced her work today

27:27 - Amanda’s gift for listeners

Resources and Links from Today's Episode:

Advancing Service Design Conference - December 3-4, 2024 https://rosenfeldmedia.com/advancing-service-design/

Tomorrowmind: Thriving at Work with Resilience, Creativity, and Connection―Now and in an Uncertain Future by Martin Seligman and Gabriella Rosen Kellerman https://www.amazon.com/Tomorrowmind-Resilience-Creativity-Connection_Now-Uncertain/dp/1982159766