Ep. 36 Unicorns Over Rainbows: Creating a Culture of Small Changes for Business Success with Nathan Donaldson

In the new episode of the Love Not Fear podcast, host Eduard Brink is thrilled to welcome Nathan Donaldson, a visionary business leader from New Zealand. They explore Nathan's incredible journey with Boost, a highly regarded software company known for its progressive non-hierarchical structure and innovative problem-solving approaches for government clients. Nathan reveals the essence of Boost's success isn't in its final products but in its cultural journey, which has led it to become one of New Zealand’s top workplaces.

“Devolve responsibilities and create space for others to fill the gaps, empowering team members to contribute meaningfully.” - Nathan Donaldson

In Today’s Episode:

❤️ Implementing small changes can lead to significant cultural transformation within organizations.

❤️ Building a culture of curiosity, accessibility, safety, and empathy can enhance team collaboration and productivity.

❤️ Creating a safe work environment fosters open communication and empowers employees to contribute effectively.

❤️ Prioritizing empathy in leadership enables a deeper understanding of team dynamics and facilitates successful change management.

❤️ Success in organizational design often involves slowing down, listening to team feedback, and empowering others to drive positive change.

“Building a culture of curiosity, accessibility, safety, and empathy can enhance team collaboration and productivity.” - Nathan Donaldson

The Three Pillars of Successful Organizational Change:

🤍 Curiosity: Incorporating curiosity into the fabric of the organization ignites a sense of exploration and innovation. By encouraging team members to question the status quo and envision new possibilities, businesses can tap into the collective creativity and expertise of their workforce. Donaldson's emphasis on curiosity as a driving force for change underscores the importance of continuously seeking improvement and adapting to external challenges and opportunities.

🤍 Accessibility: Making change accessible to all levels of the organization is essential for seamless implementation. Complex ideas and frameworks must be distilled into digestible concepts that can be easily understood and implemented by team members. By ensuring that changes are clear, concise, and relatable, businesses can create a culture of inclusion and collaboration that fosters sustainable growth and development.

🤍 Safety: Creating a safe space for open communication and idea sharing is fundamental to successful change management. Team members must feel empowered to voice their opinions, challenge existing norms, and engage in constructive debates without fear of judgment or reprisal. By cultivating a culture of psychological safety, organizations can harness the full potential of their workforce and drive transformational change with confidence and resilience.

🔊 To explore more insightful discussions and learn about Nathan Donaldson's innovative approach to organizational design, listen to the full podcast episode. Stay tuned for inspiring content and valuable insights from the Love Not Fear podcast.

Resources:

- Nathan Donaldson's Website

- Nathan Donaldson's LinkedIn

- "Unicorns Over Rainbows" by Nathan Donaldson

Join our Love Not Fear community:

https://lovenotfear.com/

Recommended resources and books:

https://lovenotfear.com/blog/

Shop Swag:

https://love-not-fear.myspreadshop.com/

Follow David Henzel:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidhenzel/

Follow Eduard Brink: