Adoption of new technologies and practices as well as solutions to persistent and resistant problems in the workplace require changes in human behavior. Regardless of the intelligence of a new platform or the elegance of a process flow, returns on investments are driven by how well and how quickly people adapt to change. Accelerating the change process through applying the written and, most especially, unwritten rules of human behavior has long been my secret sauce.
But where did that wisdom come from? Would you believe a childhood filled with dairy farming influences and one honest teacher?
Two lessons that shaped me into the Change Thought Leader of today:
1. Dairy farmers know that life literally revolves around meeting the needs of their four-legged, black-and-white-spotted animals. Forget about them, and you’re out of a job. The same is true for your employees impacted by the change. Cows are curious creatures. If left to themselves, they tend to wander and get into trouble. You can spend hours rescuing a cow that has somehow managed to get tangled in the barbed-wire fences. People too are curious, especially about change. If you stop giving them a part in the change story, if you quit being there for them during the transformation, or if you start distancing the “why” we are changing from them, you’ll quickly find yourself having to untangle impacted users from that “barbed wire fence.”
2. My grade school teachers echoed the same feedback year after year, “Debbie is definitely one of the most talkative students, no matter where we move her in class, she communicates with everyone!” Throughout my career, I have developed the art of being able to communicate with anyone at any given time. From speaking on public stages to studying communication's impact on human behavior, to working in a variety of industries that allowed me to utilize this skill to become an expert change manager, I’ve learned that effective communication is at the core of any successful transformation initiative, change leader and business.
Through the art of storytelling, I deliver a personal, thought-provoking, and inspiring presentation centered around the concept of CHANGE. I transform my experiences into relatable messages of resilience that are meaningful to a wide range of audiences. I reach each person with relevance, leaving behind lessons that can be applied in all aspects of professional, relational, and spiritual life.
Because of my extensive background in Corporate America, I can tailor the message into interactive workshops and training sessions addressing the various needs of organizations and companies that may be experiencing significant change.
Qualifications:
* 25 years enabling the design and successful delivery of strategic change
* Author of 2 books and many articles on change
* Master storyteller and dynamic public speaker
* Masters, Human Resource Development (HRD)
* Certified Change Practitioner
