Revisting: Organizational Change & the Transformation Office with Jason Little

Originally recorded in the before times... Nov 2019... we're rereleasing this podcast, in anticipation of our upcoming conversation with the "Grand Poohbah of Lean Change" Jason Little and his co-author Ken Rickard about their new book "Six Big Ideas of Adaptive Organizations"

In this episode, Hosts Chris Murman, Andrew Leff, and Jay Hrcsko delve into the intricacies of transformation offices within organizations with Jason Little. 

They discuss the challenges and necessities of having an internal transformation team, emphasizing the importance of empowerment, courage, and the ability to inspire behavioral change beyond mere process adjustments. The conversation highlights the need for a balanced approach that includes internal champions, external experts, and executive backing to effectively drive change. All share personal experiences and insights on how transformation teams can sometimes hinder progress by adding complexity or failing to align with organizational culture and goals.

Key Points Discussed:

1. The Role of Transformation Offices:
Jason Little shares his extensive experience, highlighting that transformation offices should act as air traffic controllers, guiding and supporting various change initiatives across the organization. The discussion emphasizes the importance of these offices in connecting different teams and ensuring that change efforts are aligned and coherent.

2. Challenges and Solutions:
The conversation covers common pitfalls such as the bureaucratization of transformation efforts and how it can stifle innovation and progress. Jason suggests that transformation offices need to maintain a balance between providing structure and allowing for the organic growth of change initiatives.

3. Empowerment and Support:
Jay Hrcsko reflects on his experiences, stressing the need for transformation offices to be visibly empowered by executive leadership to effect real change. This top-down support is crucial for the office to command respect and authority within the organization.

4. Cultural Impact and Behavioral Change:
Andrew Leff discusses the transformation office's role in not just changing processes but also influencing organizational culture and behaviors. He advocates for a transformation strategy that inspires employees to adopt new ways of working and thinking.

5. Practical Insights and Strategies:
The episode is rich with practical advice, including the importance of setting clear expectations, the courage to challenge the status quo, and the strategic timing of change initiatives to coincide with organizational readiness.

Links:

• Jason's Twitter
• Lean Change Management site
• Jason's book, Lean Change Management
• The Six Big Ideas of Adaptive Organizations by by Ken Rickard, Jason Little

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