Have you ever felt like leading change is more confusing than it should be? In this episode, Kevin welcomes Jeff DeGraff to discuss the complex art of change. Jeff shares why traditional change efforts often stall and how paradoxes can serve as a source of innovation and energy. Together, Kevin and Jeff discuss ideas such as launching change from the edges of an organization, the distinction between science and art in managing transformation, and why experiences, rather than facts, are what truly shift people’s perspectives. They also discuss the "paradoxical mindset challenge" and offer practical tools for navigating change more effectively.

Listen For

00:00 Introduction: The Art of Change
00:56 Welcome to the Remarkable Leadership Podcast
02:10 Introducing Dr. Jeff DeGraff
03:18 Jeff’s Journey from Pizza to Paradoxes
04:53 Why This Book? The Frustration Behind It
06:14 Leading Change from the Edges, Not the Center
08:09 Art vs Science in Change
10:39 The Power of Paradox in Driving Change
13:15 Facilitating Change Through Constructive Conflict
16:25 The Paradoxical Mindset Challenge
20:32 Exploring a Favorite Paradox: Facts Don’t Change Minds
24:42 Failure as a Prerequisite to Learning
26:34 Leadership Lessons from the Pandemic
29:35 You Can’t Change Others Until You Change Yourself
30:49 What Jeff Does for Fun
32:32 What Jeff is Reading
33:17 Where to Connect with Jeff DeGraff
34:05 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

Jeff's Story: Jeff DeGraff is a clinical professor at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business and the co-author with Staney DeGraff of The Art of Change: Transforming Paradoxes into Breakthroughs. He founded Innovatrium, an innovation consulting firm that focuses on creating an innovation culture, capability, and community. The firm offers three types of coaching services: Executive Coaching, Innovation Project Coaching, and Personal Development Coaching. Known as the “Dean of Innovation,” he has spent four decades helping organizations—from Fortune 500 companies to the U.S. military—lead change from the edges, not the center