Swimming Against the Stream
Understanding what happens beneath the surface
The approach has been shaped by years working with organisations and complex business situations - and by our doctoral research into how people experience and respond to organisational change. This research led towards a wider question: why do intelligent, experienced people sometimes respond to apparently rational organisational decisions in ways that seem difficult to understand?
The research suggests that behaviour often makes considerably more sense when viewed in context. Identity shapes response - change can affect much more than someone's job. Trust shapes engagement - people don't always say what they think. Culture shapes what lands - organisational intent is interpreted through existing cultures, relationships, norms and experience.
Identity
Trust
Culture
Change is often a challenge to identity. We explore how status, expertise, and belonging influence professional responses to strategic decisions.
People don't always say what they think. We identify the signals of silence and apparent compliance, helping leaders understand the true state of engagement.
Organisational intent is interpreted through existing norms and experience. We examine the cultural context that determines what actually lands.