What Kind of Leader Do You Want to Become? Complete the free Self-Assessment Now: https://www.loisburtononline.com/pl/2148831091 Change is rarely just about project plans and business cases—it is deeply, inherently human. Host Lois Burton sits down with Sue Roberts (Director of Students and Scholarly Services at the University of Auckland) and Dr Caroline Williams (University Librarian at the University of Sydney) to unpack their co-authored book on change leadership. Together, they share hard-won insights from across the UK, New Zealand, and Australia, exploring how to balance hard business goals with the psychological impact of transition. From using David Rock’s SCARF model to understanding resistance through a lens of emotional intelligence, Sue and Caroline reveal why great leadership starts with managing yourself. They also share profound lessons learned from Indigenous perspectives on guardianship, country, and reciprocity. If you are leading an initiative or looking to bring your authentic self to your role, this conversation offers practical, grounded guidance for the long game. Key Takeaways Manage Yourself First: Leading change is an exposing process; regulating your own emotions and mindsets is essential before attempting to lead others. Reframe Resistance to Change: Rather than dismissing pushback, effective leaders seek to understand what is triggering people from a values and psychological perspective. Balance Strategy and Psychology: Successful transformation requires pairing hard business case development with human-focused models like SCARF and the Kubler-Ross grief cycle. Embrace Indigenous Principles: Concepts such as Kaitiakitanga (guardianship), Country, and reciprocity offer rich, relational ways to lead sustainably. Lead with Courage and Congruence: Leadership means taking on difficult challenges while aligning your skills, purpose, and natural communication style. Quotes "The fundamental reason Caroline and I wrote the book is to write the book we wish we had been able to read when we were practitioners coming up." "Great leaders now are seeking to understand what is going on for people so that the way we move through different stages can be done in an emotionally intelligent way." "I used to think that managing change was about managing other people. And I realized it was about managing myself." "Silence is not acceptance. Silence is probably where everybody's gone underground." "Whatever we're doing, we're doing it as guardians of that service, of those people... tread lightly." Episode Chapters 00:00 – Welcome & Guest Introductions 02:42 – Why Write a Practical Handbook for Change? 03:36 – Balancing Hard Strategy with Psychology (SCARF & Grief Models) 07:12 – Reframing Resistance: Moving from Pushback to Sense-Making 09:35 – Securing Support & Socialising Your Business Case 16:53 – Managing Yourself: Emotional Regulation in Leadership 18:41 – Building Coalitions & Seeking External Support 21:16 – Addressing Severe Reactions & Creating Space for Process 32:47 – Cultural Contexts: Leading Change in the UK, NZ & Australia 39:43 – Lessons in Leadership from Indigenous Worldviews 45:14 – Golden Advice for New Change Leaders: Courage & Congruence About the Host: Lois Burton is a highly respected executive coach and leadership development specialist with over 25 years of experience supporting senior leaders and executives across a wide range of sectors, including leisure, manufacturing, financial services, healthcare, and higher education. Early in her career, Lois worked closely with coaching pioneers Sir John Whitmore, author of Coaching for Performance, and Peter Bluckert, co-founder of the European Mentoring and Coaching Council, gaining first-hand experience during the formative years of professional coaching in both the UK and the USA. In 2000, she founded Lois Burton Ltd, growing it into one of the UK’s leading specialist leadership coaching consultancies. Widely regarded as “the leaders’ coach,” Lois is recognised for her expertise in developing high-performing, high-potential leaders and helping them navigate complex leadership challenges. Lois works with organisations and executives nationally and internationally, partnering with leaders across multiple countries to drive lasting leadership impact. www.loisburton.co.uk www.loisburtononline.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/LoisBurton www.facebook.com/LoisBurton www.instagram.com/loisburtoncoach This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/
