EPISODE · Oct 2, 2025 · 45 MIN
Guiding Change 🌀: The Human Side Leaders Miss (with Toni Cairns)
from The 7people Podcast: Your Guide to Creating Irresistible Organizations · host 7people
New leadership, new investors, M&As...most orgs will face changes in their journeys. But why do so many big changes fail, even when the strategy was solid?Because most leaders ignore the human side of change. This episode we're joined by org change expert Toni Cairns (fractional Chief People Officer and founder of YellowBox), to learn how we as HR professionals can help guide orgs to survive and thrive through big changes. What you'll learn:The top 3 mistakes orgs make in managing changesThe importance of (over)communicationHow to build a change plan 101 (using ADKAR*)What actually causes the friction during change clashesManaging emotional responses with the 'change curve'Common change scenarios - and how to do them better*ADKAR: Awareness / Desire / Knowledge / Ability / ReinforcementWhether you’re in HR, a founder, or a leader facing big changes, this episode is packed with expert insights, real case stories and practical tips to help your next change run smoother.Let us know in the comments if you enjoyed this episode!Chapters00:00 Coming up…01:05 Toni Cairns: Change expert03:12 Top 3 Change Do’s & Don’ts04:22 Change Curve model (Kubler-Ross)07:08 Change plans & commsChange cases11:59 Leadership changes: Founder to CEO15:59 Always ask “why”18:30 Leadership changes: Old vs new (more corporate) guard23:09 After investment27:15 M&A, mergers, takeovers - overcommunicate!32:08 When M&As go wrong34:22 Managing the emotional falloutIntermezzo39:11 1 big change vs lots of little ones over year?Proudly pragmatic41:58 Making Change Plans 101 (ADKAR)43:33 Key takeaways
What this episode covers
New leadership, new investors, M&As...most orgs will face changes in their journeys. But why do so many big changes fail, even when the strategy was solid?Because most leaders ignore the human side of change. This episode we're joined by org change expert Toni Cairns (fractional Chief People Officer and founder of YellowBox), to learn how we as HR professionals can help guide orgs to survive and thrive through big changes. What you'll learn:The top 3 mistakes orgs make in managing changesThe importance of (over)communicationHow to build a change plan 101 (using ADKAR*)What actually causes the friction during change clashesManaging emotional responses with the 'change curve'Common change scenarios - and how to do them better*ADKAR: Awareness / Desire / Knowledge / Ability / ReinforcementWhether you’re in HR, a founder, or a leader facing big changes, this episode is packed with expert insights, real case stories and practical tips to help your next change run smoother.Let us know in the comments if you enjoyed this episode!Chapters00:00 Coming up…01:05 Toni Cairns: Change expert03:12 Top 3 Change Do’s & Don’ts04:22 Change Curve model (Kubler-Ross)07:08 Change plans & commsChange cases11:59 Leadership changes: Founder to CEO15:59 Always ask “why”18:30 Leadership changes: Old vs new (more corporate) guard23:09 After investment27:15 M&A, mergers, takeovers - overcommunicate!32:08 When M&As go wrong34:22 Managing the emotional falloutIntermezzo39:11 1 big change vs lots of little ones over year?Proudly pragmatic41:58 Making Change Plans 101 (ADKAR)43:33 Key takeaways
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Guiding Change 🌀: The Human Side Leaders Miss (with Toni Cairns)
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