Phil Gilbert: Irresistible Change
Phil Gilbert is best known for leading IBM’s 21st-century transformation as their General Manager of Design. The transformation became the subject of a Harvard Business School case study, the documentary film The Loop, and feature articles in the New York Times and Fortune Magazine. He is the author of Irresistible Change: A Blueprint for Earning Buy-In and Breakout Success (Amazon, Bookshop)*.
We’ve all been through mandated change initiatives more times than we can count. But what if change wasn’t a mandate, but an offer – or even an invitation? In this conversation, Phil and I explore how to make change irresistible.
Key Points
- Change should be regarded as a high-value-add product.
- Don’t mandate change. Offer change.
- Your goal is sustained cultural adoption, not improving immediate competency.
- Start small, but cover all your bases on a reduced scale. Make a great cupcake instead of a mediocre wedding cake.
- People buy brands, not products. Branding change allows you to define the values and message that goes with it.
Resources Mentioned
- Irresistible Change: A Blueprint for Earning Buy-In and Breakout Success by Phil Gilbert (Amazon, Bookshop)*
Interview Notes
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