Workshop at Pulse Live Liverpool, 9 May 2019. When it's hard to get people on board with your idea for improvement, focus on the WHY before the WHAT.

1. @robertvarnam@robertvarnam #leadingimprovement
Effective leadership,
influencing change
Dr Robert Varnam
Director of Leadership for Improvement
NHS England and NHS Improvement
@robertvarnam
robert.varnam@nhs.net

2. @robertvarnam #leadingimprovement

3. @robertvarnam #leadingimprovement

4. @robertvarnam
Leading change

5. @robertvarnam #leadingimprovement

6. @robertvarnam

7. @robertvarnam
Leading change
80% of what leaders say fails to connect
with what their staff care about
Worldwide, most change efforts fail, despite usually having:
• A good idea
• A clear list of instructions for what people should do
• A strong focus on controlling performance to reach the goal
Good ideas, instructions and controls aren’t enough.

8. @robertvarnam

9. @robertvarnam
Who’s paid
them?
Who told her
to do that?
What is the
performance
management
framework?
Who’s running
this?

10. @robertvarnam
Where to start?
“Here’s what
you need to do”
versus
“I have a dream”

12. @robertvarnam

13. @robertvarnam
It’s about the narrative
… tell a story
that connects with
why they’re here
How do you get so many people
doing things you tell them?
Sarah-Jane Marsh @BWCHBoss

14. @robertvarnam #leadingimprovement

15. @robertvarnam@robertvarnam
Resources
• The power of one, the power of many.
bit.ly/powerofonemanypdf
• Start with why. youtu.be/IPYeCltXpxw [short]
youtu.be/qp0HIF3SfI4 [long]
• Leading with purpose. vimeo.com/103429228
• Motivation at work. bit.ly/12g66zh
• School for Change Agents. theedge.nhsiq.nhs.uk/school/

16. @robertvarnam
robert.varnam@nhs.net