139 | The Critical Role Leadership Plays in Shaping Organisational Culture | Denise Black and Denis Doolan
Episode Summary In this episode of the Building Better Cultures podcast, Scott McInnes engages with Denise Black and Dennis Doolin to explore the critical role of leadership in shaping organisational culture. They discuss insights from the Mind the Gap report, emphasising the importance of intentionality, inclusivity, and the need for leaders to embody the culture they wish to create. The conversation highlights the consequences of neglecting culture, the essential capabilities leaders must develop, and the collaborative process of defining a target culture that aligns with organisational strategy. The episode concludes with reflections on the impact of leadership on cultural change and performance. Takeaways Leaders have a disproportionate impact on organisational culture. Inclusivity is essential for effective culture creation. Culture should be woven into the strategic DNA of the organization. Empathy and active listening are critical leadership skills. Culture is not a standalone initiative; it enables all initiatives. Intentionality in leadership is crucial for cultural success. Feedback from employees is vital in shaping target culture. Communication is key to reinforcing culture and values. Leaders must model the behaviours they wish to see in their teams. A strong culture leads to better organisational performance. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Leadership and Culture 04:28 Insights from the Mind the Gap Report 09:24 The Role of Leaders in Shaping Culture 15:12 Consequences of Abdicating Culture to HR 19:19 Essential Capabilities for Senior Leaders 30:39 Defining Target Culture 37:23 Impact of Leadership on Cultural Change
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138 | Mind The Gap Research: Insights on Organisational Culture | Sadhbh O'Flaherty & Scott McInnes
SUMMARY In this episode of the Building Better Cultures podcast, Sadhbh O'Flaherty takes over the mic to interview Scott McInnes about his recent research titled 'Mind the Gap.' The research explores the cultural challenges organisations face today, particularly through the lens of Chief People Officers (CPOs) in Ireland. The conversation delves into the motivations behind the research, key findings, and actionable insights for organisations looking to improve their culture. Key themes include leadership skill and will, the role of managers, the importance of learning and development, accountability for values, and the challenge of disconnection in the workplace. Scott emphasises the need for intentionality in creating a strong organisational culture that aligns with business strategies. Mind The Gap Research: http://bit.ly/4gXtNp2 TAKEAWAYS Connection among HR leaders is crucial. Understanding culture challenges requires frontline insights. Leaders set the tone for organisational culture. Everyone in the organization owns the culture. Managers play a key role in translating values to teams. Learning should be prioritized beyond formal courses. Accountability for values strengthens organisational culture. Feedback is essential for personal and professional growth. Intentionality is key in fostering workplace connections. Culture impacts business outcomes significantly. CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Research 02:02 The Motivation Behind the Research 04:28 Leadership Skill and Will 06:55 The Manager Factor 10:54 Skills for Today and Tomorrow 15:09 Accountability for Values 20:54 The Challenge of Disconnection 27:22 Surprises from the Research 29:18 Connecting Themes to Business Outcomes 32:34 Actionable Steps for Organisations
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The Power of Story - a Webinar | Inspiring Change and The Cumberland Building Society
🧑💻Upcoming Webinar: Transform Your Change Journey Through the Power of Storytelling! This September, join Scott McInnes and Des Moore, CEO of The Cumberland Building Society for a webinar exploring how they successfully used a corporate narrative, co-created with their people, to bring their transformation journey to life in a more human way. What You’ll Discover: 1. Clear understanding of corporate narratives and their role in transformation. 2. Practical storytelling techniques to engage people during change. 3. Step-by-step collaborative process for co-creating compelling stories with colleagues. 4. Key insights on using stories to align and inspire teams through transformation. 📅 Mark Your Calendar: - Date: September 17, 2025 - Time: 12:00-1:00 pm (GMT) - Format: Online via Teams Spots are limited, so please secure your spot today! Regsiter here.
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137 | Storytelling, Stakeholders, and Strategy: Communicating Change Right
Summary In this episode of the Building Better Cultures podcast, Scott McInnes speaks with Catherine Fallon about the critical role of change communication in organizations undergoing transformation. Catherine shares her extensive experience in employee engagement and change management, emphasizing the importance of building trust and aligning stakeholders during periods of change. The conversation explores effective strategies for communicating change, the role of middle management, the significance of storytelling, and the necessity of engaging change agents to foster a supportive environment. Ultimately, the discussion highlights the need for honesty and transparency in communication to ensure successful change implementation. Takeaways Change communication is about building trust, not just issuing messages. Effective change communication aligns people towards a common goal. Resistance can cripple change programs if not managed properly. Honesty and transparency are critical in change communication. Middle management plays a vital role in translating change for their teams. Stakeholder analysis is essential to understand different perspectives. Stories can make change relatable and resonate with employees. Engaging change agents helps to influence and support the change process. Regular communication updates are necessary, even if there is no new information. Treating employees like adults fosters a culture of trust and engagement. Sound Bites "It's not what you do, it's how you do it." "Change is always going to happen in an organization." "Building trust with the people going through the change." "The worst case is resistance and friction." "You want to know where the pockets of resistance are." "Being honest and open is critical." "Treat your employees like adults and don't infantilize them." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Change Communications 02:51 Catherine Fallon's Career Journey 05:45 The Importance of Change Communication 08:49 Effective Change Communication Strategies 12:09 The Role of Middle Management in Change 15:05 Understanding Stakeholder Perspectives 17:49 The Power of Storytelling in Change 21:04 Engaging Change Agents and Influencers 23:57 Final Thoughts on Honesty in Change Communication
Summary In this episode of the Building Better Cultures podcast, Scott McInnes speaks with Clare Duffield, Assistant Chief Officer for People and Organisational Development at the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). They discuss the importance of workplace culture, the challenges faced by policing globally, and the insights gained from a cultural audit conducted within PSNI. Clare shares the findings of the audit, highlighting both concerns and strengths within the organisation, and emphasises the need for trust, recognition, and support in fostering a positive culture. The conversation concludes with practical steps for implementing cultural change and the significance of connecting employees to the organisation's mission and purpose. Takeaways Workplace culture is about the experience of employees. A clear mission and purpose are essential for organizational culture. Cultural audits can reveal both strengths and weaknesses. Trust and transparency are crucial for employee engagement. Recognition of achievements boosts morale and culture. Leadership visibility fosters trust within the organization. Cultural change requires time and commitment from leadership. Engaging employees in the change process is vital. Understanding the context of culture is important for effective change. Small, incremental changes can lead to significant improvements. Sound Bites "Culture is what's it like to work here?" "We have to be able to give back." "Trust starts with human connection." "It's about the person behind the uniform." "One step at a time. Marginal gains." "We need to invest in the police service." "Focus on the why. Why does it exist?" Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Guest 02:54 Understanding Workplace Culture 06:02 The Impact of Global Policing Challenges 08:56 Cultural Audit and Its Findings 11:48 Addressing Cultural Concerns 15:11 Positive Aspects of the Workforce 17:55 Building Trust and Support 20:49 Recognizing and Celebrating Achievements 23:45 Practical Steps for Cultural Change 27:02 Looking Forward: Implementing Change 29:58 Final Thoughts on Culture Change
Hosted by Scott McInnes, founder of Inspiring Change, we talk to guests about how really good internal comms, engagement and leadership all contribute to 'Building Better Cultures'. We tend to shy away from theory and focus more on really practical advice, great stories and best-practice.
About Inspiring Change
At Inspiring Change we help our clients to connect their people to their strategies, their change programmes, their purposes and to each other. We do that by focusing on strategic internal communications, employee engagement and leadership.
For more, see www.inspiringchange.ie
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