Embracing Change and Making Waves: An Interview with Strategic Coach and Former CEO Patti Johnson
Sep 12, 2024
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How do you embrace change and make an impact in your professional and personal life? In today's fast-paced workplace, change is the only constant. This truth is at the heart of Patti Johnson's story, which we explored in a recent episode of my Dominate Your Day podcast. Patti, the former CEO of PeopleResults, has a long history as a consultant and change agent. Her journey, from a small-town upbringing to leading a successful consulting firm, offers valuable insights for anyone navigating professional transitions.
Patti grew up in Ponca City, Oklahoma, a place where her world felt very small. The idea of becoming a consultant or running her own business was far from her mind. This changed during her 16-17 years at Accenture, where she learned to meet high standards and deliver excellent work. The rigorous environment at Accenture honed her skills and gave her the confidence to eventually start her own business.
The entrepreneurial phase of her career began with uncertainty. Despite having a strong foundation from her corporate experience, Patti admits she knew only about half of what she thought she knew when she started her business. However, she persisted, growing her company to the point where it was eventually acquired. Throughout these phases, Patti's strengths played a crucial role. Her dominant strength of "strategic" helps her to see the big picture and spot patterns quickly. This, combined with her determination and achiever mindset, propelled her forward.
For many women in corporate roles, the idea of starting a business can be daunting. Patti's journey underscores the importance of grit, determination, and a never-give-up attitude. Her decision to start her business was driven by a desire to balance her ambitious career goals with her family life. She wanted to create a career that allowed her to be present for her young children while still pursuing her professional ambitions.
Patti's approach to starting her business involved a blend of strategic planning and self-education. She set low expectations for the first year, treating it as an experiment. This mindset made the leap into entrepreneurship feel more manageable. Additionally, she sought advice from numerous people, learning from their experiences and gradually building her confidence.
Her book, Make Waves: Be The One to Start Change at Work and Life, reflects her passion for leading and starting change. It explores how to initiate change, how to deal with resistance, and how to face changes that one didn't choose. The book's concept of "wave maker DNA" profiles individuals who are comfortable with and effective at leading change. One key aspect of being a wave maker is the ability to be an agile planner, adapting plans as necessary without feeling like a failure.
In writing Make Waves, Patti wanted to articulate her thoughts and share her experiences with a broader audience. The book, which has been recently updated and will be available as a second edition in September, places a greater emphasis on mindset. She believes that a belief in one's ability to figure things out, even without having all the answers upfront, is crucial. This mindset of adaptable persistence—continuously navigating obstacles and finding new paths—is essential for leading change.
As Patti reflects on her career, she emphasizes the importance of prioritizing time effectively. Strategic thinking requires time to reflect on what matters most. For those feeling stuck in their current roles, she advises freeing oneself from the constraints of the immediate environment and focusing on what they truly want. Simplifying tasks and being intentional about how you spend your time can create the space needed to think strategically and pursue meaningful goals.
Patti Johnson's story is a testament to the power of change, strategic thinking, and determination. Her insights offer valuable guidance for anyone looking to navigate their own professional transitions and make a lasting impact.
About Patti B. Johnson
Patti B. Johnson is a distinguished change management and communications expert and the former CEO of PeopleResults, a change and learning consulting firm she founded over 18 years ago. Under her leadership, PeopleResults achieved significant success, culminating in a successful private equity acquisition in 2023. Patti hosts the podcast Be a Wave Maker: Conversations on Change and serves on the Board of Pariveda Solutions. She has also been selected for the Forbes Business Council.
Her best seller, Make Waves: Be the One to Start Change at Work and in Life, provides strategies for anyone starting or leading a change. Johnson shares how anyone can start or contribute to making a meaningful change, or "wave," in their lives and communities. She developed the Wave Maker DNA profile, the core capabilities of leading successful change - through her experience, research, and interviews with an eclectic mix of wave makers – from business leaders and entrepreneurs to students and community champions. Johnson shares the Think.Know.Do a model for starting and leading a successful change. The book delves into topics such as starting – even before you feel ready, having an “I can figure this out” mindset and getting comfortable with being uncomfortable. The second edition of Make Waves will be released in September 2024.
Before founding PeopleResults, Johnson was a global senior executive at Accenture. There, she was pivotal in creating innovative change service offerings and global talent programs, specializing in complex people transitions and providing expertise on complex organizational transformations. Her thought leadership extends to academia, where she is an adjunct professor at SMU on leading change.
Johnson has been featured as an expert in media, such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, MONEY Magazine, U.S. News and World Report, Fast Company, Entrepreneur, and Working Mother.
Episode Minutes:
- Minute 3:00 — Strengths and Starting a Business
- Minute 13:00 — Lessons and Leading Change
- Minute 22:00 — Building and Selling a Business
Episode Links:
- Visit pattibjohnson.com
- Pre-order Patti’s book, Make Waves: Be the One to Start Change at Work and in Life
- Connect with Patti on LinkedIn
- Listen to Patti’s podcast, Be a Wave Maker
- Get your copy of The Strengths Journal
- Visit Dana Williams Consulting Website
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