In this episode, Ruth is joined by Kathryn Eade, Head of Strategic Change at the University of Salford and founder of the Female Leadership Collective. With over 20 years' experience in leading change and supporting growth, Kathryn Eade shares her insights on what really makes change possible within organizations. The conversation covers the realities of driving sustainable transformation, the human side of change, and the importance of fostering collaborative environments.
Key Topics Discussed
Seeing Change from the Inside vs. Outside
Kathryn Eade describes how working internally reveals the complexities, histories, and unwritten rules that truly shape organizational change, often unseen by external consultants 02:49.
Sustainability and Systemic Change
The importance of lasting impact and how real change is less about delivering projects and more about shaping systems and behaviors 05:00.
Levers for Meaningful Change
Leadership modeling and consistency are essential
Change is not announced, it's experienced through leaders' behaviors 07:31
Small, incremental shifts ("stretching the elastic band") build momentum over time
Managing Expectations and Pace
Demonstrating "quick wins" to maintain momentum 10:11
Translating collaborative and behavioral work into language that resonates with results-focused leaders
Culture: The "Soft" Hard Stuff
Why culture and behaviors are strategic enablers, not “soft” extras 13:18
The difference between living values and paying lip service
Informal behaviors and cultures of psychological safety are what actually move organizations forward 15:34
Psychological Safety & Candid Conversations
The value of calling out hidden conversations and creating space for honest dialogue 19:01
Building trust so challenging topics can be addressed openly
The Emotional Journey of Change
Organizations often underestimate the feelings of loss and discomfort that accompany change 27:50
Acknowledging and working through the "endings" is vital for healthy transitions
What Success in Change Feels Like
When people experience clarity, momentum, and shared ownership, change becomes part of everyday work 32:01
Change fatigue is more often about poor prioritization than too much change
Practical Takeaways
Sustainable change involves shaping systems, not just delivering projects
Leadership consistency and small, visible wins are crucial
Create intentional spaces for collaboration and reflection
Measure and discuss the impact of "soft" skills in hard results terms
Build psychological safety for real, honest dialogue
Don’t skip over the emotional journey or the importance of endings
Judge where to put your energy—not everyone will be convinced at the same pace
If you have thoughts, questions, or stories to share, Ruth would love to hear from you.
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