Plant Your Feet Firmly in Mid-Air: Lead Through Change

The Forward Thinking Podcast, Powered by FCCS

Successful transformations during disruptive change demand a very defined set of behaviors from leaders. On this episode of The Forward Thinking Podcast, FCCS VP of Marketing and Communications Stephanie Barton welcomes Dr. Janet Lapp, Former Professor, Psychologist, registered nurse, author, and speaker at the upcoming RISK 360 Conference for a conversation about the inevitability of change in the workplace, how leaders can embrace change and the importance of creating a vision that inspires your team.

Episode Insights Include:

The importance of planting your feet in mid-air

• Feet that are planted firmly on the ground might suggest an unwillingness to change.

• Staying grounded in mission, purpose and values is essential, but it isn’t all that is needed.

• Leaders need to question everything else from policies, titles, strategies, and old ways of getting things done.

• Effective leaders must be willing to build on shifting ground.

• Stay grounded while also making change where change is needed most.

Finding and implementing the most effective change leadership advice

• Be extra careful when considering any new leadership approach.

• Too many leadership books are based on opinion- look for the facts amidst the opinions.

• Certain workplace elements need to be change-ready before any change experiment is attempted.

• Don’t try to implement change in a chaotic, failing workplace- consider your team and company culture first.

Forward thinking leadership strategies

• Servant leadership that listens to others and considers their needs before making changes will never go out of style.

• Leadership based on vulnerability is more important than ever before.

• Leaders who can connect with others and are authentic in their efforts can be curious and ask questions.

• A creative and innovative workspace is not possible without vulnerability.

• Leaders need to be willing to admit when they don’t know all of the answers and are willing to ask others and continue learning.

• Effective leaders trust the talents and abilities of the team that they have created.

Transformational leadership versus change leadership

• Change leadership is creating an organization that is capable of changing.

• Transformational leadership means creating a shared vision that can be followed through engagement and involvement.

• A transformation without a solid foundation will only lead to chaos.

• A cultural setting of transformation must be created before any effective change can happen.

Engaging a team in inevitable change

• Leaders can engage people who actively resist change by listening to their concerns.

• People do not resist change, they resist the fear of loss.

• Leaders need to communicate regularly about the things that they know as well as the things they don’t know everything about.

• Leaders need to create a compelling vision of the future that all employees can get on board with.

• If people are having trouble getting on board with change, a stronger vision of the future needs to be created by leaders.

This podcast is powered by FCCS.

Resources

Connect with Dr. Janet Lapp – Dr. Janet Lapp

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“Effective leaders must be willing to build on shifting ground.” — Dr. Janet Lapp

“Vulnerability is the basic leadership skill that is so needed today.” — Dr. Janet Lapp

“A creative and innovative workspace is not possible without vulnerability.” — Dr. Janet Lapp

“People do not resist change, they resist the fear of loss.” — Dr. Janet Lapp

“Change is not a force to be seized but an opportunity to be grabbed.” — Dr. Janet Lapp