Helping Clients Navigate Organizational Change: an interview with Martha Legare of the Gantt Group

Martha Legare is a behavioral scientist, an MBA, PMP, CMP, ACE & EMCC Coach, and a consultant with deep expertise in project management and organization change. Martha formed a startup with 2 partners before it was trendy (they are still friends), and then managed a manufacturing plant in California. For the last 20 years, she's been consulting and coaching, leading projects, and helping clients manage organizational change.  Martha shared that she grew up on a dairy farm in Virginia, and was aware that her family had had a lot of money, and then lost it due to bad investments. This experience taught her about financial resilience, long before she stepped into the boardroom. Having come from a family of entrpreneurs, Martha never held a traditional corporate job. Her skills, confidence and optimism accompanied her throughout her journey from  business owner, to general manager of a manufacturing plant to her role today as a corporate consultant and executive leadership coach.“I think failure is a major learning point, that if you're successful at first, then you don't understand the impact of things going wrong and that makes you less likely to be successful the second time. If you fail at first, then you know you have to do some kind of work around or you have to change the scope of where you're headed” - Martha LegareKey takeaways:- Know that failure is a major learning point. As Martha notes, when you’re an entrepreneur you’re not going to progress without taking risks that can result in failure. If you’re successful at first, then you don’t understand the impact of things going wrong. If you fail at first, then you know you have to do some kind of work around or you have to change the scope of where you're headed.- People who are lucky are the ones who are just open, who don’t have preconceptions. Martha shared how she was in California on vacation and, while she was at a cocktail party, learned about a position that was open for a general manager which led to her next role. She considers herself a lucky person, and attributes that to being open, as well as being skilled in pattern recognition. - Start saving early. Looking back, the biggest thing that Martha would change is to start saving early; she didn’t really think about saving until she hit the age of 40. She’s been fortunate that her earnings are strong enough that she has been able to save money and pay down debt, though she started at a relatively mature age.- Know how to ask for help. Recognize that asking for help is a skill we need to learn, and that it is a strength, not a weakness. Martha noted that after 9/11 was a difficult time for her emotionally as well as financially. She reached out for help, which she says is a real strength, and knowing when you need it and asking early is an even greater strength. About the guest:Martha Legare is a behavioral scientist - which simply means she is very curious about how people act and what motivates them. Martha formed a startup with 2 partners years before it was trendy, (they are still friends), then managed a manufacturing plant in California. For the last 20 years, she’s been consulting and coaching, leading projects and helping clients manage organization change. Website: https://www.ganttgroup.com/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marthalegare/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GanttGroupEmail address: [email protected] Interested in booking a free consultation? Schedule a call.Stay connected:Connect with Laura on LinkedIn@Rotters5 on TwitterConnect with Laura on FacebookSubscribe to my YouTube channelSubscribe to my newsletterGet your free copy of Unlock Your Money Blocks Workbook : Your step-by-step guide to unlocking your blocks to financial freedom.Disclaimer: Please remember that the information shared on this podcast does not constitute accounting, legal, tax, investment or financial advice. It’s for informational purposes only. You should seek appropriate professional advice for your specific information.