Redefining Change Management Leadership

Summary:In this episode of Change Chats, Judith Bueving speaks with Margot Waldorf, founder of the Change Awards and owner of Altioras about:- Why organizational change management deserves more recognition and how the field is evolving. - Why the Change Awards was created to recognize people and organizations doing transformative, sustainable change work, especially in a field that has often lacked visibility.- The Change Awards' origin story, the growth of the applications from the UK to an international pool.- How change practitioners can build stronger careers by staying curious, visible, and open to continuous learning.- Organizational change management should be understood as part of a larger ecosystem that also includes behavioral science, innovation, and coaching.- Change capability needs to be built into organizations themselves, because every company now operates in a state of continuous change.- Emotional resilience at work, feedback that stings, and the importance of naming feelings instead of suppressing them.- Advice to newer practitioners: work across many projects and clients, ask specific questions, seek out learning opportunities, and be realistic about being “80 percent perfect.”- Advice to new mid-career professionals, look beyond traditional internal change roles and considering adjacent spaces such as member-based organizations, chambers of commerce, and other people-driven environments.- For anyone considering change entrepreneurship, Margot says fear is normal, progress comes from action, and success should be measured against your own path rather than someone else’s.Show notes timestamps:00:00 — Welcome to Change Chats and introduction to Margo Waldorf00:34 — What the Change Awards are and why Margo founded them03:34 — The first Change Awards event: an unexpectedly full room05:57 — Growing the awards and evolving the event experience07:34 — From UK-focused awards to a global applicant pool09:45 — Running the Change Awards alongside Altioras12:06 — What award applications reveal about the future of organizational change13:18 — Big business pivots, AI, and what change looks like behind the headlines16:12 — Why Margo built her career as an independent consultant20:04 — Different career paths in change management23:25 — Navigating difficult feedback and protecting your emotional wellbeing30:07 — Why emotions belong in the workplace31:14 — Behavioral change and the broader value of change management35:08 — Coaching and innovation as adjacent fields for change practitioners38:51 — Building benchmarks for what good organizational change looks like40:01 — Advice for early-career change practitioners44:37 — The value of working across industries and embracing imperfect expertise46:26 — Mid-career opportunities beyond traditional organizational roles50:27 — Advice for aspiring change entrepreneurs54:10 — Where to connect with Margo and learn more about the Change Awards Resources:Change Awards Margo Waldorf's LinkedIn Altioras Advisory Firm

During the upcoming Change Chats episode with Margo Waldorf we talked about innovation at the heart of change management. A subject that I haven't heard so much about yet because whilst often we are asked to lead transformations that are innovative in itself are the solutions we bring innovative as well? Are we being part of the innovative conversations? I would love to hear fellow change practitioners' perspective on this!Do you feel you can share ideas, test possibilities, learn from failure, and challenge the way things are done within our own discipline? What are some innovative change management solutions you proposed?Feel free to comment here or DM me on Linkedin: Judith Bueving

Everybody is scared.That’s not a warning. That’s the point.In my upcoming Change Chats episode with Margo Waldorf I asked what advice she’d give to people thinking about stepping into change management entrepreneurship - especially the ones who feel nervous about making the leap.Her answer: "I am scared. Everybody is scared." Now mind you, that Margo unlike 95% of change management professionals started as a change entrepreneur straight out of college and she is still a very successful change management entrepreneur. Being scared is part of the package. What I like you to think about: fear doesn’t mean you’re not ready.It usually means you’re doing something your brain hasn’t learned yet.The first time you step into something new, your mind doesn’t have the path. So of course it feels hard. But once you do it, the connection is there. The path exists. It gets easier to go again. It is a muscle that constantly needs to be trained. And, I deeply, ask you, dear change management professionals, that if you think about change entrepreneurship, whatever that means for you, you start taking that leap ✨.Whether that is posting online about our field once a month or teaching a class, or starting a social media channel. DO IT.Margo Waldorf, I am looking forward to share our full episode soon, thank you for sharing you honest way of thinking about change management entrepreneurship.

As a change manager, do you look through the one specific lens of your project or program or assignment?Or do you see the organization as a system and the interconnectedness of that particular planned organizational program with your organization's rewards systems, enterprise technology, and, how you contract to clients?I used to see it as the first in my earlier years.Until I was introduced to systems thinking and started to see, really see, the broader context transformation programs are operating in, how it interconnects and can really make or break a change programs. And that is when I saw the influence and impact I can have as a change manager.I challenge you to do the same in your current or next role. I am sure you will find one thing that massively surprises you.

Is your organization stuck in the past or are you building resilience for constant change? And, do you put a couple of change management interventions in place or do you look how to integrate change capability in your organization through a systematic lense? Most companies today face relentless change, yet many aren’t building the mental agility needed to thrive. Change isn’t a one-and-done event anymore, it’s ongoing. That’s why integrating change management into your core operations isn’t optional, it’s essential. Through embedding adaptability into our operating models and helping employees with adapting a change mindset, we create teams that can pivot with the waves, not drown in them.In my upcoming Change Chats episode with Margo Waldorf we will dive into this.#Leadership #ChangeManagement #OrganizationalChange #Adaptability #BusinessGrowth

What is left for us?AI can now handle stakeholder mapping, impact assessments and parts of comms strategy (and the list can go on).In my latest Change Chats episode (see full episode 7) with Nissi Ozigbu, we talked about what is left for us as change management professionals. Change managers can be excellent facilitators, connectors, communicators & risk identifiers. That human edge is where we should be investing our time and upskilling. But are you building out or improving that skillset now that AI has taken the other 60% of your responsibilities? What is your 40%? And, what are you doing to develop it?#ChangeManagement #AI #Upskilling #FutureOfWork

Episode Summary:In this episode Judith Bueving sits down with Nissi Ozigbu change strategist and influencer extra-ordinaire.They cover topics such as moving from a tactical to a strategic change manager, the role of personal branding and online presence in the field, influencing organizational change and how to ensure you as a change practitioner are involved early into the strategic planning of the transformation programme, and what skills become even more important as a change practitioner in the field of AI.See a more detailed list of topics and timestamps below.Resources & Links:Nissi Ozigbu on LinkedInTheGrowthHut: Personal Branding & Leadership DevelopmentChange Management Institute Trends ReportJudith Bueving on LinkedinTopics & Time Stamps:00:00 Introduction to Change Management and Nissi Ozigbu01:27 Transitioning to Change Entrepreneurship05:00 The Role of Personal Branding in Change Management08:50 The Need for Strategic Change Management12:18 Operations Management Experience and Its Impact16:00 Building Relationships in Change Management18:48 Advice for New and Experienced Change Practitioners21:39 Embracing Multigenerational Perspectives in Change Management23:14 Learning from Career Challenges and Personal Growth26:43 The Importance of Online Presence for Change Practitioners33:22 The Evolving Role of Change Managers in the Age of AI35:10 Practical Steps for Enhancing Your Professional Presence

Public Service Announcement to all Change Practitioners. Get online and share more of what you do, why you do it, and the value you bring. Why is it important? In my upcoming episode featuring Nissi Ozigbu she will dive into the why, airing next week! I can't wait to share it with you.

Who is ready for another change management framework? Not me 🙅‍♀️.What am I ready for? More strategic change leadership and thoughtware on the matter, showing up differently. 🌶️ The next guest on Change Chats, the Podcast to Navigating your Change Management Career, is a force to be reckoned with and has some great insights to share. 🎙️ I am excited for the full episode release with Strategic Changefluencer Nissi Ozigbu 🔥 in the coming weeks. Stay tuned.#change management #change management leadership #nomoreframeworks

Visibility - a vital topic for our profession. Why?It is our duty to ourselves and the next generations of change practitioners to come to showcase our value everyday so that our profession is known and trusted.So that in the near future our profession is institutionalised as a standard part of every organisation’s operating model.For more on visibility, how to showcase our value and role as a strategic change practitioner I am excited to share my upcoming episode with Nissi Ozigbu that is airing soon in which she will share some excellent stragetic perspectives on this. #ChangeManagement #ChangeChats #ChangeLeadership