“A scrappy, resourceful entrepreneur.”
Sharon Connolly, Change Manager and founder of Change Superhero.
Would you associate the qualities and mindset behind someone like this with a Change Manager? I would hope so.
I had the pleasure of spending time with Sharon Connolly a few weeks ago.
Sharon is a full-time Change Manager, working in the banking and finance industry. Sharon is also the founder of Change Superhero, an organisation dedicated to helping change and project professionals get the most out of Microsoft Office (and amazing templates!) for their change initiatives.
Check out the Human Factors Advisory YouTube channel covering our conversation. You can access several videos (2–5 minutes long) covering a range of useful topics for project and change professionals alike (see comments).
It was interesting to learn about Sharon’s eclectic background. Entrepreneurship and small business was a continual theme in her background.
We spoke about her excellent (and free) change templates on her site www.changesuperhero.com.au. We also spoke about how you transform these templates into business outcomes.
Sharon spoke about benefits realisation and change analytics. Many a project finishes on a great note with a couple of powerful slides covering the benefits reaped by project delivery. We discuss how Change Managers enhance their Microsoft Excel and data analytics skills.
We spoke about an entrepreneurial skillset and mindset. High-performing Change professionals can adopt this — if they haven’t already!
This plucky, entrepreneurial mindset helped Sharon make her mark as a Change Manager. Sharon believes in making your change memorable. Especially in the midst of many things going on for any employee impacted by your change! We discuss cleverly positioning your change (amongst many other changes and static things happening). In doing so, you are creating a ‘mini-brand’ for your change.
We also discuss the idea and practice of having a “productivity stack” ie. a series of software applications to boost your productivity as a Change Manager.
Both of us are former IT trainers. I could relate to what Sharon had to say about facilitating outcomes via the medium of adult learning. Sharon spoke of her insights in the neuroscience behind adult learning. We also joined the dots in how this valuable knowledge applies to leading change.
I wanted to share the work-in-progress which goes towards the third edition of Human Factors and Change.
Please let me know your thoughts on the quality and topics covered in these videos. I am always keen to learn from you — and open to feedback.
