The Sources of Power That Create Real Change

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On this episode

When you see problems that need fixing, but the system lacks power, time, and resources to make meaningful change, it’s easy to feel stuck.

The key to change isn’t more resources, but understanding how to deploy different types of power effectively. Doctors often rely solely on “expert power” – assuming others will follow their recommendations simply because they’re right – when successful change requires using other power bases like relationship building and understanding what motivates stakeholders.

Organisations that lack psychological safety become trapped in a cycle where everyone feels victimised, blaming each other rather than working together on solutions. Teams become frozen, unable to make even small improvements that could accumulate into significant change.

But this discussion with Dr Richard More will help you identify a small change you might be able to affect. Small wins build confidence and momentum for bigger changes, while demonstrating your ability to improve things for everyone involved.

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More episodes of You Are Not a Frog:

How to Boost Your Leadership Skills (Even if You Don’t Think You’re a Leader) – Episode 280, with Dr Paul O’Dwyer
How to Challenge Upsetting Behaviour – Episode 192, with Dr Chris Turner
How Do You Say No When Someone Might Die? – Episode 193

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About the guests

Richard is a former GP who now works on organisational change and leadership development within healthcare settings. He specialises in helping healthcare professionals understand and navigate organisational change, even when they feel they lack the power or resources to make meaningful improvements.

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Reasons to listen

To learn how to navigate organisational change when you feel like you don’t have the power or resources
For practical strategies on identifying what’s in your control and making small, impactful changes
To understand how to build psychological safety and better team dynamics to overcome resistance and create sustainable improvements

Episode highlights

00:01:28

Can we really change organisations?

00:05:04

What happens when we deploy “expert power”

00:07:43

What to do when there are too many constraints

00:11:33

How to change the NHS

00:14:31

Verschlimmbesserung

00:18:20

The Xytal approach to change

00:25:24

What power are you choosing to accept or relinquish?

00:27:00

The only thing in your control

00:32:07

Conflict avoidance

00:35:59

?Purposeful perseverance vs blind persistence.

00:38:50

Going off the record

00:40:58

Who’s responsible for providing psychological safety?

00:43:51

The drama triangle

00:52:53

What does “good” look like?

00:54:13

The shroud-waving trump card

00:58:53

Don’t just do something, stand there!

01:00:35

Delegating vs dumping

Episode transcript

[00:00:00] Rachel: As doctors or people in high stakes jobs who people really depend on, we are used to having to come up with the right answer as the consequences of getting it wrong can be fatal. But being the smartest person in the room or even having the most relevant expertise isn’t always helpful when we want to make changes in a system that’s struggling. [00:00:20] Rachel: This week I’m speaking with Dr. Richard More, an expert in leadership within clinical teams. In this episode, we talk about the various different forms of power we can cultivate when we…