Unravelling Change Leadership:
A fresh approach using human instincts
Andrew O’Keeffe
Hardwired Humans
Using Human Instincts
• A predictive framework for knowing what
will work and what won’t
• Less anxiety and less distraction
• Faster implementation
• An approach that helps leaders with “daily”
changes they get to implement
• Enhance your professional toolkit
Human Nature
How do humans respond to change?
Change
Change
Good
Bad
Change
Good
Bad
Hardwired Human Instincts
Emotions Before Reason
First Impressions to Classify
Loss Aversion
Gossip
Social Belonging – Family of 7 and
Clan of up to 150
Source: Nigel Nicholson, London Business School, Managing The Human Animal, and Harvard Business Review July–August 1998
The 9 Essentials For Leading
Change Using Human Instincts
Essential 2 – Influence the
Classifying Moment
How are people going to feel the moment
they hear about the change?
Okay
Uncertain
Essential 2 – Influence the
Classifying Moment
How are people going to feel the moment
they hear about the change?
Appointing a new
manager
“Okay”
(A quick phone call
to 16 people)
“Uncertain”
(Email, call a meeting)
Essential 5 – Gossip and
Rumour
1. Ensure explanation is plausible
2. Leave no vacuum and attend to rumours
(in a vacuum people begin to wonder if
they are missing out on information and
make it up for themselves)
Example at Metro Trains Melbourne, during a
restructure the key leader held a briefing
session at 10am every Thursday – and
before the briefing he knew the rumours
Essential 6 – The Gossip
Test
What do we want people to say afterwards?
Identifies your actions to create the desired
future state
For example, in a relocation 7 people were
losing their office – what’s the best thing we
can realistically hope the 7 people will say
when they go home the day they learn of the
change?
Continuing Your Learning
Journey
1. Subscribe to monthly newsletter
2. Read Hardwired Humans
3. Open workshops – Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney
in December
4. HR/Change team development and accreditation
www.hardwiredhumans.com
[email protected]
The Key Takeaways
1. If we know our natural instincts we can make
informed choices
2. Classifying detector is always turned on –
driven by how we feel
3. We are not wired to resist change – we
screen for loss
4. Transform your approach, advice and
success on change management