The Inner Game of Change

Welcome to The Inner Game of Change, the podcast where we explore the unseen forces that shape how we lead, adapt, and thrive in the face of change and transformation. 

In this episode, I am joined by James Stevenson, Principal at Kaizen Institute Western Europe. James brings clarity, calm, and sharp thinking to the world of continuous improvement. 

We talk about what Kaizen truly is (and what it is not), why it starts with the custo...

Welcome to a very special mini-series on The Inner Game of Change. I’m thrilled to take you on this journey as we explore something both timeless and practical: Mental Models for Managing Change.

Now, before we get into today’s topic, let’s quickly revisit something we mention in every episode — what is a mental model anyway?

A mental model is a way of seeing — a framework that helps us interpret complexity, solve problems, and make ...

Welcome to a very special mini-series on The Inner Game of Change. I’m thrilled to take you on this journey as we explore something both timeless and practical: Mental Models for Managing Change.

Now, before we dive into today’s topic, let’s quickly revisit something we mention in every episode — what is a mental model anyway?

A mental model is a way of seeing — a framework that helps us interpret complexity, solve problems, and make...

Welcome to The Inner Game of Change, the podcast where we explore the unseen forces that shape how we lead, adapt, and thrive in the face of change and transformation. 

In this episode, I sit down with Dr Jonathan Thorp; a former Navy pilot turned leadership educator—to unpack one of the most vital ingredients of effective teams: psychological safety.

From the boardroom to the break room, we explore what makes conversations feel safe...

Welcome to a very special mini-series on The Inner Game of Change. I’m thrilled to take you on this journey as we explore something both timeless and practical: Mental Models for Managing Change.

In our last episode, we explored Leverage Points — how small, well-placed actions can shift entire systems. We talked about where change managers should be scanning for influence — not just solving problems, but shifting the conditions that...

Welcome to The Inner Game of Change, the podcast where we explore the unseen forces that shape how we lead, adapt, and thrive in the face of change and transformation. 

Today, I’m joined by Bronwyn Penhaligon — a strategic psychotherapist who helps people and teams get unstuck by tackling the emotional loops and environmental triggers that hold them back. In this conversation, we unpack burnout — how it’s different from stress, why ...

Welcome to a very special mini-series on The Inner Game of Change. I’m thrilled to take you on this journey as we explore something both timeless and practical: Mental Models for Managing Change.

In this episode of Mental Models for Managing Change, we explore Leverage Points — a systems thinking model that helps change leaders identify the small, high-impact interventions that can shift entire systems.

Popularised by Donella Me...

Welcome to The Inner Game of Change, the podcast where we explore the unseen forces that shape how we lead, adapt, and thrive in the face of change and transformation. 

In this episode, I am joined by the insightful and bold Amy Yackowski—founder of Painted Porch Strategies and a passionate advocate for building shift-ready teams and leaders.

Together, we dive into the critical, often overlooked period before change officially begins...

Welcome to a very special mini-series on The Inner Game of Change. I’m thrilled to take you on this journey as we explore something both timeless and practical: Mental Models for Managing Change.

In this episode, we explore one of the most practical and empowering models in the change toolkit: the Circle of Control, Influence, and Concern.

When faced with uncertainty or disruption, where we place our attention can make or break our i...

Welcome to The Inner Game of Change, the podcast where we explore the unseen forces that shape how we lead, adapt, and thrive in the face of change and transformation.

In today’s episode, we explore a powerful way of thinking and working that helps people navigate complexity, solve tough problems, and grow through structured learning — the Improvement Kata.

My guest is Tracy Defoe — a lifelong adult educator, Kata coach, and passiona...

Welcome to a very special mini-series on The Inner Game of Change. I’m thrilled to take you on this journey as we explore something both timeless and practical: Mental Models for Managing Change.

In this episode of Mental Models for Managing Change, we explore a mental model that helps us cut through complexity and focus our energy where it really counts: The Pareto Principle, also known as the 80/20 Rule.

Named after economist Vilfr...

Welcome to The Inner Game of Change, the podcast where we explore the unseen forces that shape how we lead, adapt, and thrive in the face of change and transformation.

In this episode, I am joined by someone who’s been on the frontlines of organisational culture in some of the world’s most recognisable companies — Mehmet Baha, author of the newly released book Creating Psychological Safety at Work.

Baha is the founder of Solution Fol...

Welcome to a very special mini-series on The Inner Game of Change. I’m thrilled to take you on this journey as we explore something both timeless and practical: Mental Models for Managing Change.

In this episode of Mental Models for Managing Change, we explore a mental model that helps us pause, reflect, and challenge how we make sense of the world around us: The Ladder of Inference.

Developed by organisational psychologist Chris Arg...

Welcome to The Inner Game of Change, the podcast that explores the evolving landscape of change management, leadership, and transformation.

In today’s episode, I’m thrilled to be joined by Susan Zhang, a creative technologist, author, and global thought leader. From her beginnings in China to her journey as an international student in Australia, Susan has embraced the discomfort of change to unlock personal and professional growth.

W...

Welcome to a very special mini-series on The Inner Game of Change. I’m thrilled to take you on this journey as we explore something both timeless and practical: Mental Models for Managing Change.

In this episode, we explore a mental model that invites us to look beyond the immediate impact of change: Second-Order Thinking.

So often, change initiatives are shaped around what we expect to happen next. But in reality, change rarely foll...

Welcome to The Inner Game of Change, the podcast that explores the evolving landscape of change management, leadership, and transformation.

Today, I am chatting with Ian Heard Director of Public Sector Modern Work at Microsoft ANZ — a leader who is right at the heart of how AI is reshaping the way we work. 

In this episode, we talk about the real story behind GenAI Copilot, what change looks like inside Microsoft, and why the role of...

Welcome to a very special mini-series on The Inner Game of Change. I’m thrilled to take you on this journey as we explore something both timeless and practical: Mental Models for Managing Change.

In this episode, we explore a model that helps us look beyond what is visible in times of change: the Iceberg Model.

Often, we respond to what we can see on the surface — missed deadlines, disengaged teams, unexpected resistance. But, as wit...

Welcome to The Inner Game of Change, the podcast that explores the evolving landscape of change management, leadership, and transformation.

In this episode, I’m joined by the remarkable Karen Ball, Senior Fellow at Prosci and author of The ADKAR Advantage: Your New Lens for Successful Change. Released in April 2024, Karen’s book offers a fresh and practical take on navigating change by embracing the power of the Prosci ADK...

Hi everyone, and welcome to a very special mini-series on The Inner Game of Change. I’m thrilled to take you on this journey as we explore something both timeless and practical: Mental Models for Managing Change.

Before we dive into today’s topic, let’s quickly cover what a mental model actually is.

A mental model is simply a way of thinking — a framework that helps us understand the world, make better decisions, and solve problems m...