While change management is a critical aspect of organisational success, there was much less recognition of its importance in years gone by. In this episode, I chat to Doug Wolfson about how change management has evolved over the last 20 years, and how community and connection plays a vital role in driving better outcomes for organisations.

Doug Wolfson is the director of Pivot Consulting with 25 years experience in change management. He works with organisations going through major transformation initiatives at both the strategic and the operational levels, and is passionate about supporting change management professionals to connect with one another and continue to grow in their practice. 

In our conversation, Doug shares the driving force behind establishing The Change Management Institute, a community of like-minded professionals who come together to share their experiences, insights and knowledge. 

There has been much progress in the industry over the last 20 years, and Doug talks about the changes he’s observed, such as the shift towards more agile approaches to change management. We speak about organisations recognising the need to become more adaptable to ever-evolving circumstances, as well as the importance of engaging people managers in the change process. 

Changes within an organisation can present many challenges, and we often see these initiatives attempted, yet fail. This can lead to cynicism among middle managers, who have experienced the coming and going of well-intentioned game plans that never truly stick. Doug speaks about the importance of working with these leaders in the middle, who can grasp high level strategy, as well as bring insight on how to get things done. When it comes to overcoming scepticism, co-creation is key.

For change management to continue to advance, its practitioners need to be dedicated to continuous learning. Doug emphasises the importance of gaining insight from others and borrowing wisdom from fields such as design thinking and neuroscience. 

He shares all about Rethink Change, an events-based entity he co-founded that brings industry professionals together, and we chat about the upcoming Rethink Change conference that will focus on the latest trends and insights in change management. 

Doug has a wealth of knowledge from his many years in the industry, and I hope this episode challenges you to think about the ways in which you can create innovation in your own methods of communication, collaboration and engagement. 

LINKS

Rethink Change Conference

10% off discount to Rethink Change Conference

Connect with Doug:

Website: https://pivotconsulting.com.au/ 

LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/douglaswolfson 

Connect with me: 

Download my Energy Management Toolkit here!

Website:            https://www.everchange.com.au/

LinkedIn:            https://www.linkedin.com/in/drkatebyrne