Name: Pragmatic Change
Author: Mark Winter

Most change programs are still built for an organisation that no longer exists.

Most change programmes are built for an organisation that no longer exists.

The 2005 playbook: appoint a sponsor, hire a change manager, “do comms”, run training, go live…play a Kayne West track and declare success.

That model assumed stable hierarchies. Predictable timelines. Clear authority.

That 2005 world is largely gone. And not just because Kanye has lost the plot.

700 change practitioners across the globe just told us what’s actually coming.

In reading about it and writing this article, I realised I’ve been living it for 20 years…

Change, LeadershipMark Winter14 April 2026Change, Leadership, Change Management, Transformation

"What's the first step for me leading this complex change?"

"What's the first thing I should do for this complex change?"

It's seductive to think there's a "perfect" starting point... but complex change isn't linear—it's a web of intertwined processes and people.

A more effective question is, "What are all the relevant aspects of the change that I should consider?" Here's some shortcuts:

🌏 Think Holistically: Address multiple elements simultaneously rather than sequentially.

📊 + ❤️ Balance Data and Stories: Metrics tell you what's happening; stories reveal why and how.

🤩 Integrate Process and People: Technical solutions need human engagement to succeed.

Complex change demands both the head and the heart. By embracing this duality, you prepare yourself to navigate challenges with agility and authenticity.

Success isn't about a single step; it's about understanding the whole journey to lead with confidence and impact.

Change, LeadershipMark Winter18 October 2024Change, Change Management, Change Leadership

How To Know When Your Change Is DOOMED To Fail...

A change effort is doomed to fail when the key leaders of the change are arguing from a fixed position of what the 'future state' will look like.

They’ve already decided what the organisation "will be", and now the "change management" is simply getting everyone else on board. In essence, they are trying to win an argument.

And when leaders are focused on winning arguments, they’re not focused on solving the real problems that change management is meant to address.

Great leaders don't take charge and argue...they co-create care and accountability. The fundamentals of how to do that, are in this article.

#changeleadership

#changemanagement

#leadershipdevelopment

Change, LeadershipMark Winter20 August 2024Change Management, LeadershipComment

Lessons learned from service design, digital transformation and change

After dialling up the emotion on my goodbye post, thought I'd close off my escient journey by reflecting on my top three invaluable lessons learned from being 'front and centre' to service design, digital transformation and change.

LeadershipMark Winter24 March 2023Agile, Transformation, Change ManagementComment