Ep 107 - Leading Through Change with Paula Brockwell

In this episode, we tackle one of the biggest challenges leaders face: implementing culture change without losing your team (or your sanity) along the way. If you've ever been tasked with driving change or found yourself wondering why culture initiatives seem to fizzle out, this conversation is a must-listen. Our guest expert Paula Brockwell, an occupational psychologist who specialises in shaping productive workplace cultures, reveals why most organisations drastically underestimate what it takes to make change stick - and more importantly, what you can do about it. Key points from this episode The truth about how long real culture change takes (hint: it's not 6 months) Why being the "sunshine and rainbows" leader during change can actually backfire A practical framework for diagnosing and addressing resistance in your team How to maintain credibility when you don't have all the answers The most common mistake leaders make when communicating change 00:00 Introduction and Guest Background 02:00 Understanding Culture Change Timelines Realistic expectations for implementation Why quick fixes don't work The importance of systematic change 07:00 Leadership Responsibilities During Change Making change feel real and practical for teams Having crucial conversations about the 'why' Managing when you don't have all the answers 14:00 The Four Blocks to Change Not seeing the reason for change Thinking others need to change (not me) Lacking confidence Missing opportunities to implement change 19:00 Creating Safe Spaces for Learning Allowing mistakes and recovery Building momentum gradually Supporting team members through transition 23:00 Final Advice and Leadership Support Finding your leadership tribe Breaking echo chambers Maintaining authentic communication Useful Links Join The Catalyst Career Club for 50k+ Leaders Connect with Pam on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamelalangan/ Connect with Jacqui on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacqui-jagger/ Connect with Paula: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulabrockwell/ www.theexproject.com https://www.youtube.com/@spark-culture-change Interested in working with us? Get in touch about career or leadership development, outplacement workshops or recruitment support via the Catalyst Careers website Mentioned in this episode: Catalyst Career Club for £50k+ Leaders & Managers Moving up the career ladder needs an inside edge - strategies that allow you to unlock your full potential and position yourself as a true leadership talent. And that's exactly what the Catalyst Career Club for 50k+ Leaders provides. No fluff, no corporate jargon. Just a down to earth, purposeful injection of oomph for your career from Pamela & Jacqui Use the code PODCAST to get your first month for £1 https://www.pamelalangan.com/catalystcareerclub