Podcast Title: Something You Should Know
Host: Mike Carruthers | OmniCast Media
Episode Title: How to Change What’s Not Working & Why Time Seems to Speed Up and Slow Down
Release Date: January 2, 2025
Introduction to Organizational Change with Dan Heath
Timestamp [03:22]
In the inaugural episode of 2025, host Mike Carruthers welcomes Dan Heath, a renowned speaker and author of the insightful book "How to Change What's Not Working." The primary focus of their discussion centers on understanding why organizations often resist change and how individuals can overcome the inertia that stifles innovation and improvement.
Challenging the Status Quo
Dan Heath opens the conversation by addressing a common scenario within organizations: the unquestioned adherence to existing processes simply because "that's how things have always been done." This entrenched mindset hampers progress and discourages the adoption of new, potentially more efficient methods.
Notable Quote:
"When you're told that a hundred times in a row, it's like you just kind of slowly build up these calluses."
— Mike Carruthers [00:45]
Breaking Free from Entrenched Systems
Timestamp [06:01]
Mike shares an illustrative story from Northwestern Memorial Hospital's receiving area, where packages took an astonishing three days from receipt to delivery within the hospital—a process starkly inefficient compared to standard delivery services like UPS or FedEx. Despite the team's competence, they were trapped within a rigid system resistant to change.
Notable Quote:
"Every system is perfectly designed to get the results it gets."
— Paul Bataldin (as quoted by Mike Carruthers [06:01])
Dan Heath emphasizes that often, what stops us from fixing a problem is the absence of recognizing it as an issue in the first place. Without identifying the inefficiency, no solution is sought.
Identifying Leverage Points
Timestamp [09:26]
To navigate out of stagnation, Mike introduces the concept of leverage points—strategic areas where a minimal effort can lead to significant improvements. He further elaborates on techniques like studying bright spots, which involves analyzing areas or instances where processes work well despite overall system inefficiencies.
Notable Quote:
"If we're trying to get unstuck, motivation is the fuel for that change."
— Mike Carruthers [09:26]
Implementing Change Through Collaboration
Timestamp [14:06]
Mike recounts an email from a listener who implemented a simple yet effective change in her government office by buying paper in bulk instead of on a project basis. This shift not only saved the organization tens of thousands of dollars but also significantly boosted employee morale by validating their input and showcasing the tangible benefits of their suggestions.
Notable Quote:
"They save tens of thousands of dollars, no joke. And imagine what that does for morale."
— Mike Carruthers [15:20]
Overcoming Organizational Apathy
Timestamp [18:49]
The discussion delves into why some employees become indifferent over time. Constant rejection of new ideas leads to a gradual build-up of indifference, making it crucial to introduce fresh perspectives or catalysts to reignite the drive for improvement.
Notable Quote:
"When you're told that a hundred times in a row, it's like you just kind of slowly build up these calluses."
— Mike Carruthers [18:49]
Framework for Change: Leveraging and Resource Reconfiguration
Timestamp [23:44]
Mike outlines a two-part framework essential for effective change:
- Find Leverage Points: Identify areas where small changes can have outsized impacts.
- Reconfigure Resources: Strategically allocate existing resources—time, energy, motivation—to support the new direction without requiring additional inputs.
Notable Quote:
"The heart of what I'm saying boils down to a two-part framework."
— Mike Carruthers [23:44]
Conclusion of Organizational Change Segment
Timestamp [30:18]
Dan Heath wraps up the segment by emphasizing the importance of aligning the "goal of the goal" with the actual objectives. He cites the example of a dealership obsessively collecting perfect survey scores not to genuinely improve customer experience but to meet arbitrary targets—a misalignment that undermines the original intent of feedback collection.
Notable Quote:
"When a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure."
— Dan Heath [29:46]
Exploring Time Perception with Steve Taylor
Timestamp [31:24]
Shifting gears, the podcast introduces Steve Taylor, a senior lecturer and researcher in psychology at Leeds Beckett University, and author of "Time Expansion: The Psychology of Time Perception and the Illusion of Linear Time." Steve delves into the fascinating realm of how humans perceive time, addressing why it sometimes seems to accelerate or decelerate despite the clock's consistent passage.
Timestamp [32:33]
Steve shares a personal anecdote about experiencing a car accident where time appeared to slow down dramatically, allowing him to react more effectively than usual. This phenomenon, known as time expansion, highlights the brain's flexibility in constructing our perception of time based on our consciousness and mental state.
Notable Quote:
"Time is a kind of spatial phenomenon. It's all kind of laid out in a panorama."
— Steve Taylor [51:15]
Mechanisms Behind Time Perception
Timestamp [37:04]
Steve explains that time perception is closely linked to information processing. The more information our brains process, the slower time seems to pass. Novel environments and new experiences enhance information intake, thus making time feel more elongated. Conversely, routine and repetitive activities lead to the perception of time speeding up.
Notable Quote:
"The more information you process, the slower time goes."
— Steve Taylor [36:14]
Impact of Emotions on Time Perception
Timestamp [40:30]
Negative emotions and stressful situations, such as waiting anxiously or experiencing pain, can make time drag. This is because our minds are burdened with worries and thoughts, increasing information processing and stretching the subjective experience of time.
Notable Quote:
"These situations... your mind gets very agitated and very, very busy... which stretches time."
— Steve Taylor [41:01]
Time Expansion in High-Performance Scenarios
Timestamp [46:05]
Steve discusses how elite athletes often report time expansion during peak performance moments. This altered perception allows them to react swiftly and make split-second decisions that can be the difference between winning and losing.
Notable Quote:
"Lionel Messi... has this amazing ability to slow down time."
— Steve Taylor [46:05]
Life Review During Near-Death Experiences
Timestamp [48:53]
One of the most intriguing aspects Steve explores is the phenomenon of a life review during near-death experiences. Individuals report reliving their entire lives in vivid detail within moments, challenging the conventional linear understanding of time.
Notable Quote:
"I like to think of time as a kind of spatial phenomenon. And this kind of fits with Einstein's theory of relativity."
— Steve Taylor [51:15]
Practical Implications of Understanding Time Perception
Timestamp [42:57]
Understanding time perception has profound implications for how we manage our lives. By introducing novel experiences and varying our routines, we can influence our subjective experience of time, making it feel more abundant and less fleeting.
Notable Quote:
"If you keep changing your life in some way... then time doesn't necessarily go more quickly."
— Steve Taylor [38:35]
Closing Remarks
In this episode of "Something You Should Know," Mike Carruthers masterfully navigates two complex topics: organizational change and the psychology of time perception. Through engaging conversations with Dan Heath and Steve Taylor, listeners gain valuable insights into overcoming systemic inertia and understanding the malleable nature of time as experienced by the human mind.
Final Notable Quote:
"It's all about subjective perception. I mean, in time expansion experiences, people may only experience say 5 seconds of clock time, but in their mind... they actually go through maybe one minute of subjective time."
— Steve Taylor [39:04]
For those seeking to enhance their organizational effectiveness or simply better understand their personal experience of time, this episode offers practical advice and thought-provoking perspectives.
Produced by: Jennifer Brennan
Executive Producer: Ken Williams
Host: Mike Carruthers
Guests: Dan Heath, Steve Taylor
Links Mentioned in Episode:
- How to Change What's Not Working by Dan Heath
- Time Expansion by Steve Taylor
Note: This summary excludes advertisements, intros, outros, and non-content sections to focus solely on the informative discussions within the episode.