In the latest HCI Webinar Recap, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Claire Croft & Phil Lewis about the power of people-centric change in today's business landscape. Below is a summary of the main points from their conversation! Check out the full episode and let us know what you think!
Watch the episode here:
Quick Recap
Jonathan, Phil, and Claire discussed the importance of adopting a strengths-based, asset-based approach in community development and organizational change, moving away from a deficit approach and the "white savior complex". They highlighted the challenges of modern businesses adapting to rapidly changing economic conditions and the need for agility, flexibility, and strategic thinking in organizations. The team also emphasized the importance of long-term thinking, engaging with resistant clients, and the value of data in fostering a different kind of conversation and problem-solving approach within organizations.
Business Transformation and Unlocking Human Potential
Jonathan, Phil, and Claire discussed the concept of business transformation and the role of their company, Corporate Punk, in facilitating this change. Phil and Claire, the co-founders, explained that their approach is centered around unlocking human potential and harnessing the talents of individuals within organizations. They emphasized that their business doesn't follow the traditional consulting model of identifying and fixing problems, but rather helps organizations recognize and overcome their own obstacles. They shared that their clients have experienced significant commercial success after implementing their strategies. The conversation ended with Jonathan drawing a parallel between their approach and a deficit versus an asset-based approach to change.
Strengths-Based Approach in Community Development
Jonathan and Claire discussed the importance of adopting a strengths-based, asset-based approach in community development and organizational change. They emphasized the need to move away from a deficit approach and the white savior complex, where consultants try to fix everything with their prepackaged models. Instead, they advocated for a mindset that focuses on helping organizations learn and grow by leveraging their existing values and intentions. They also highlighted the importance of creating an environment where answers can be explored with honesty, openness, and optimism, rather than relying on a single person to provide all the answers.
Challenges of Organizational Change and People-Centric Approach
Jonathan, Phil, and Claire discussed the challenges of organizational change and the importance of a people-centric approach. They highlighted the limitations of a model-driven or answer-driven approach, which they referred to as the "white savior complex." Instead, they emphasized the value of deep empathic work, understanding the root causes of problems, and unlocking natural talent and energy within organizations. They noted that this approach, while not always easy, can lead to significant positive results, such as a 5 to 8 times increase in results for a client organization. The team agreed that this people-centric approach is more rewarding and leads to better outcomes than a model-driven or answer-driven approach.
Adapting to Rapid Economic Change in Business
Jonathan, Claire, and Phil discussed the challenges of modern businesses adapting to rapidly changing economic conditions. They highlighted the need for agility, flexibility, and strategic thinking in organizations. Claire emphasized the importance of shifting an organization's relationship with time and the need for clarity in decision-making. Phil pointed out the over-action bias and lack of systemic thinking in many organizations, which can lead to unintended consequences. The team agreed that taking time upfront for strategic thinking and planning could help organizations avoid messy situations and improve efficiency.
Long-Term Thinking and Avoiding Unintended Consequences
Jonathan and Claire discussed the importance of long-term thinking in their work and society. Jonathan emphasized the need to avoid potential unintended consequences and harms that could arise from short-term decisions. He suggested that investing time in the short term could lead to significant long-term benefits. Claire agreed, highlighting the impact of stress and anxiety on individuals and organizations, and the importance of creating space and time for deep thinking and strategy. They both acknowledged the need to retrain themselves and establish norms within their organizations to allow for this kind of thinking.
Engaging Clients in Change and the Change Index
Claire and Jonathan discussed the challenges of engaging with clients who are resistant to change. Claire emphasized that clients often reach out when they've realized their current approach isn't working, but they still need to feel confident in the proposed solution. She highlighted the importance of using strategic tools and data to facilitate conversations and help clients envision better outcomes. Claire also introduced a diagnostic platform called The Change Index, which evaluates an organization's readiness for change. Jonathan agreed with Claire's approach, emphasizing the need to understand clients' needs and curate solutions accordingly.
Fostering Change With Data and Problem-Solving
Claire and Phil discussed the value of data in fostering a different kind of conversation and problem-solving approach within organizations. They highlighted the resistance to change and the tendency for organizations to repeat the same mistakes, but also noted the potential for rapid progress when individuals are shown good quality data and tools to help them think differently. Phil emphasized the innate desire to contribute and solve problems, and the potential for change when people see a path out of their current issues. Jonathan agreed with their points.
Listen to the webinar here:
