In this episode, Jesse speaks with Priya Shah, CEO and founder of Shah Squared Consulting, about one of the most frustrating challenges for in-house creative teams: getting process improvements to actually stick after implementation.

Priya brings over 15 years of experience helping global companies, startups, and mission-driven organizations enhance their social media presence and operations. In this conversation, she shares hard-won insights about why implementations fail, how to get real stakeholder buy-in, and practical strategies for maintaining momentum long after consultants leave.

About the Guest

Priya Shah is the CEO and Founder of Shah Squared Consulting, a fractional communications firm that helps healthcare and B2B organizations enhance their digital presence through strategic comms and employee advocacy. With her proprietary Shah Squared Communications Model™, she connects authentic storytelling with measurable business results.

Key Topics Discussed

• Why teams default back to old processes despite knowing better ways exist
• Overcoming team members' fears about consultants and change
• The critical difference between one-to-many and one-to-one stakeholder communication
• Finding and leveraging internal champions at all levels (not just leadership)
• Creating sustainable roadmaps that account for daily workload realities
• Why cultural differences impact change adoption in global organizations

Main Takeaways

1. Address the fear factor directly

   Team members often see consultants as "the Bobs" from Office Space. Counter this by showing how new processes free them up for more strategic, visible work rather than threatening their roles.

2. Customize your message to each stakeholder

   As Priya said, "If they care about numbers, come with numbers. If they care about visuals, come with visuals. Speaking their language is essential for buy-in."

3. Think beyond the roadshow approach

   Big Zoom meetings where you announce "here's how you work with us now" often fail. Invest in one-to-one conversations where you can read verbal and nonverbal cues.

4. Build in grace periods

   Implementation isn't a light switch. Create manageable phases, and be okay with pausing during big campaigns or busy periods. Progress beats perfection.

5. Look beyond senior leadership for champions

   Peer-to-peer influence can be more powerful than top-down mandates. Find your hand-raisers at every level.

Resources Mentioned

• Learn more about Jesse's work at www.infocusconsulting.net
• Connect with Jesse on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessekrinsky

Connect with Jesse

Have a creative ops challenge you're facing? Want to be a guest on the show? Reach out to Jesse at jesse@infocusconsulting.net

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