Stop Planning, Start Prototyping Change: John Zeratsky

Here's prototype testing, hypothesis-driven change leadership, and the power of radical differentiation all rolled into one fascinating conversation. I'm SO over slow, overplanned, change management disconnected from reality. That's why I brought in John Zeratsky, former design leader at YouTube and Google, who pioneered a process for testing new ideas in just five days. John reminds us that every change initiative is "just a hypothesis until you test it." There's always something unknowable in anything new. The magic happens when you move quickly from abstract to concrete — creating prototypes you can test rather than spending months in planning meetings. This approach builds clarity and enthusiasm across your team, and helps to persuade your stakeholders to commit. Most change efforts fail because they're not different enough. Your team thinks it's revolutionary, but stakeholders barely notice anything's changed. John's differentiation process helps identify truly transformative approaches worth the inevitable disruption. Want to make your next change project succeed? Stop with the jazz hands and vague promises. Test your hypotheses early, build quick prototypes, and ensure your change is genuinely different. Change Signal. Cut through the blather, the BS, and the noise to find the good stuff that works in change management. 🎧 New episodes every two weeks. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter at thechangesignal.com.

Om Podcasten

If you’re leading change in organizations, this will be your favourite podcast. Change is harder than ever. Transformation is more complex, unpredictable and overwhelming than it’s ever been. Change Signal cuts through the noise to find the good stuff that works. Michael Bungay Stanier, author of The Coaching Habit and organizational transformation student for thirty years, talks to the best thinkers, senior leaders, and experienced practitioners in the world of change, to find what works, what doesn’t, and what to try instead. With Change Signal as your guide, you’ll be more efficient and less overwhelmed, and your change projects will more likely succeed. Change Signal: Where we cut through the blather, the BS, and the noise to find the good stuff that works.  Sign up for weekly updates at TheChangeSignal.com