Episode Summary: Jennifer Selby Long: Navigating Power, Politics, and Personal Change
In this enlightening episode of Chief Change Officer, host Vince Chan engages in a deep conversation with Jennifer Selby Long, a seasoned expert with three decades of experience in guiding tech leaders through organizational transformation. The discussion delves into the intricate dynamics of personal and organizational change, exploring the neuroscience behind self-sabotage, strategies to overcome judgment, and effective ways to navigate power and politics in the workplace.
1. Introduction and Guest Background
Vince Chan introduces Jennifer Selby Long, highlighting her extensive background in assisting tech leaders with organizational transformation, particularly in cybersecurity, digital transformation, and user experience. Vince emphasizes Jennifer’s wealth of experience, having navigated 18 career transitions herself, and underscores the episode's focus on personal transformation as a precursor to effective leadership.
2. Understanding Self-Sabotage and the Neuroscience Behind It
Jennifer Selby Long provides a profound exploration of self-sabotage, drawing from the work of neuroscientist Shirzad Shamin. She explains:
"Self-sabotage is something that develops in very early childhood. It is almost entirely wired into our brains by the time we're five years old." [00:46:25]
Jennifer elaborates on how these sabotaging neural networks, termed "saboteurs," are remnants of survival mechanisms from childhood that, while essential then, hinder personal growth in adulthood.
3. The Role of 'The Judge' in Personal Change
Central to Jennifer's discussion is the concept of "The Judge," a universal saboteur that triggers negative emotions and self-criticism. She explains:
"Your Judge is going to tell you, you need me, I am good for you, but you don't need that Judge to be talking, and that judge is not good for you." [07:37]
This Judge perpetuates self-doubt and negative self-assessment, obstructing personal and professional progress.
4. Strategies to Manage Self-Judgment
Jennifer offers actionable strategies to weaken The Judge:
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Recognize and Call Out The Judge: Acknowledge when The Judge is active.
"Oh, that's my Judge versus I can't believe I made that mistake." [07:37]
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Use Humor and Dismissiveness: Lighten the impact by making fun of The Judge.
"Judge, you're so late to the party." [07:37]
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Empathy as Kryptonite: Replace judgment with empathy to neutralize negative saboteurs.
5. Real-Life Application: Client Stories
Jennifer shares compelling client stories illustrating these concepts:
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Client Transition to CISO Role: A client facing immense pressure and resistance used empathy to transform relationships and secure necessary funding, ultimately improving team performance.
"He becomes the guy who has the boss's ear, where he becomes the guy whose organization is turning around and performing." [16:07]
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Overcoming Organizational Crisis: By fostering empathy and mitigating negative saboteurs, the client successfully navigated through high attrition rates and reduced organizational stress.
6. Lessons from Unsuccessful Change Attempts
Vince Chan inquires about challenges and failures in Jennifer’s experience. She recounts a leader who resisted change, teaching her the importance of recognizing when change isn't feasible:
"He was absolutely not going to change in his own style to what was needed there." [17:06]
This experience underscored the value of flexibility and the necessity to sometimes pivot strategies rather than force change.
7. Change Management Models and Identity
The discussion shifts to classic change management models, specifically Kurt Lewin’s Freeze-Change-Unfreeze Model. Jennifer relates this to personal identity transformation:
"Recognizing that people are going to come out of this change with a new identity helps you as a leader to have that empathy on the path." [21:59]
She emphasizes that true change often involves a fundamental shift in how individuals perceive themselves, requiring leaders to support and empathize throughout the process.
8. Defining Success in Change
Jennifer advocates for a nuanced understanding of success in change management:
"It might not look like you have a win yet, but maybe you do. Maybe it looks different than you think." [25:57]
She highlights the importance of celebrating small victories and aligning organizational goals with individuals' personal motivations to drive meaningful and sustainable change.
9. Dealing with Ineffective Bosses: Common Mistakes and Solutions
The conversation delves into handling ineffective leadership. Jennifer identifies three common mistakes:
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Playing Psychologists: Attempting to diagnose a boss’s issues instead of addressing one’s own responses.
"When you're playing psychologist with the ineffective boss, you're inadvertently disempowering yourself." [31:17]
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Losing Perspective: Becoming fixated on a single solution without exploring alternatives.
"There are probably better solutions and there are certainly more options." [31:17]
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Making It Personal: Allowing workplace frustrations to become personal vendettas.
"You're only feeding the intensely negative energy that's there." [31:17]
Jennifer offers five strategies to navigate these challenges, including stepping back to assess the situation, maintaining composure, and exploring multiple approaches to problem-solving.
10. Navigating Office Politics and Power Dynamics
Jennifer underscores the inevitability of politics in the workplace and the necessity of empathy in managing power dynamics:
"Being able to understand and empathize with the competing needs of the many stakeholders involved in a change is the path forward." [42:33]
She advises leaders to empathize with diverse perspectives to effectively navigate and lead through political landscapes, ensuring successful change implementation.
11. Conclusion and Key Takeaways
The episode wraps up with Vince Chan thanking Jennifer for her invaluable insights. Key takeaways include:
- Self-Awareness: Recognizing internal saboteurs like The Judge is crucial for personal growth.
- Empathy: Leveraging empathy can transform leadership approaches and improve organizational outcomes.
- Flexibility in Change: Understanding when to persist and when to pivot is essential for effective change management.
- Navigating Politics: Empathy and understanding diverse stakeholder needs are vital in overcoming workplace politics.
Notable Quotes:
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Jennifer Selby Long:
"These saboteurs are hardwired to focus on what's not working." [29:00]
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Vince Chan:
"You're running from something versus running to something." [31:17]
This episode serves as a comprehensive guide for leaders and individuals alike, offering profound insights into managing personal and organizational change through understanding the underlying psychological mechanisms and fostering empathetic leadership.