Season 4 - Episode 43 - Language and Change Management

Words create worlds. In this episode of Next Level Change Success, Therese unpacks how your everyday language whether it is spoken or in emails, used in workshops, and leadership moments, signals your values and shapes engagement. You’ll learn how to adapt language to different cultures and contexts to improve the engagement with your organisational, or team change. This episode is for you if you are leading a transformational change and want to make sure that you are giving it the best chance for success. Language will either engage or alienate your people - the choice is yours. Want to learn more about change management, change leadership, transformational change and change in teams? Visit us at www.myvirtualchangemanager.com and add change management and change leadership skills into your business toolkit. There has never been a more important time to be able to handle, deliver and lead change well.

We all have biases. Some we know about; others quietly shape our thinking and decision-making from the shadows. In the world of change management, where people, relationships, and trust are everything, our personal bias can make or break the success of a change initiative. Think about it. How often do you find yourself gravitating toward people who “think like you”? Or feeling instantly skeptical when someone offers a completely different approach? Bias is human. But left unchecked, it can limit creativity, silence diverse voices, and stifle growth. In this episode of Next Level Change Success, we dive into how personal bias shows up in our everyday change work, why it often goes unnoticed, and how to start recognising and reshaping it so that it empowers, rather than limits, your ability to lead change effectively. Like what you hear? Come and visit us at www.myvirtualchangemanager.com to upskill in change management, change leadership, change influencing.  

In this short, sharp episode, Therese dives into the three most common traps that derail change efforts — rushing impact assessments, missing key stakeholders, and designing in isolation. Learn how to avoid these pitfalls and build change that actually sticks through change management planning that makes a difference and takes these into account. Whether you’re working on a corporate transformation or a process tweak, this episode gives you practical tools to get it right the first time.   Like what you hear and want to create a change management plan that works? Come and visit us at www.myvirtualchangemanager.com  

In this episode of Next Level Change Success, Therese takes us on a reflective journey back to 2013, unearthing an old Prosci Benchmark Study on what drives successful change. More than a trip down memory lane, it’s a powerful reminder of what truly matters in our modern workplaces — and how much of it still revolves around people. Therese explores how the fundamentals including executive sponsorship, communication, engagement, and integration with projects, have evolved over the past decade, and why middle managers are now the real linchpin of transformation. This episode is your guide to rethinking “success factors” in 2025 and finding alignment, authenticity, and purpose in how you deliver change. Want to learn more about change? Come and visit www.myvirtualchangemanager.com  

Are you communicating your change well enough—or are people left confused and cynical? In this episode, Therese dives into the power of clear, human-centred communication. From vision and storytelling to visuals, humour, and physical experiences, discover practical strategies to engage every stakeholder and inspire real change. Like what you hear? Want to add Change skills to your business toolkit?   Come and visit us at www.myvirtualchangemanager.com

In this episode of Next Level Change Success, Therese explores the power of calm in times of organisational change. From managing pre–go-live anxiety to handling vocal stakeholders, Therese shares practical strategies and personal stories that highlight why calm is the ultimate leadership skill during change. You’ll learn the C.A.L.M. framework — Centred, Altitude, Leadership & Listening, and Momentum Management — and how to apply it to stay grounded, inspire trust, and lead with confidence. Keen to learn more about Change? Come and visit www.myvirtualchangemanager.com to develop change skills and take them to the Next Level.  

This special 100th episode of Next Level Change Success is both a celebration and a reflection. Therese explores what she’s learned through two decades in change. From navigating personal transformation to understanding the role of energy in organisations, this episode highlights why growth, empathy, and connection remain at the heart of successful change. Therese dives into paradoxes like “slow down to speed up,” shares her journey of intentional self-care, and calls on leaders and practitioners to embrace connection over division. Whether you’re leading projects, supporting teams, or simply striving to grow, this episode offers both inspiration and practical insight to help you show up as your truest, most effective self in times of change. Are you wanting to explore and develop your own change skills? Visit us at www.myvirtualchangemanager.com

In this episode of Next Level Change Success, Therese answers the most common—and often misunderstood—questions about change management. From defining what it really is, to explaining why it exists, to comparing accreditations like Prosci and Kotter, Therese brings clarity to a discipline that can often feel complex and confusing. With her signature practical style, she frames change as the bridge between current and future states, reminding listeners that the real power of change lies in how people experience it. Therese also offers candid advice on breaking into the field of change management, including practical entry points, the skills that matter most, and the resilience required to thrive. She shares why self-awareness, energy management, and belief systems are just as critical as any tool or framework. Whether you’re a project manager, HR professional, or someone curious about change, this episode delivers insights you can apply immediately to grow your career and lead with purpose. Blog post references: The Change Management Process Looking for a career in Change? Here's how Why is Change Management important?    

Poorly managed change doesn’t just delay projects or overspend budgets — it quietly drains organisations of their most valuable assets: people, performance, and potential. In this episode of Next Level Change Success, Therese explores the true costs of chaotic, reactive change and why so many organisations find themselves in a constant cycle of firefighting rather than flow. Through a vivid “balls over the wall” analogy, Therese shows how change can either exhaust teams and erode talent, or energize people and fuel performance. Listeners will leave with a new perspective on the financial and human cost of change — and practical inspiration to create healthier change ecosystems that protect engagement, foster innovation, and deliver results that last. Want to upskill in Change? Come to myvirtualchangemanager.com and subscribe to our newsletter to know when our practical, hands-on, results oriented change courses are happening.

In this episode of Next Level Change Success, Therese dives into one of the most overlooked but critical factors in driving successful change: resourcing. Too often, organisations either bring change professionals in too late or substitute them with overworked subject matter experts. Therese explores why this approach sets people—and projects—up for failure, and offers practical advice on when and how to bring in the right expertise. Beyond projects, she also highlights the importance of embedding change capability in everyday business. From upskilling leaders to empowering emerging talent, resourcing isn’t just about filling roles—it’s about building organisational maturity. Listeners will walk away with actionable strategies to resource smarter, reduce burnout, and achieve better change outcomes.   Interested in everything to do with change management? Come to www.myvirtualchangemanager.com and expand your expertise.