Wat is (straks) het ambacht van de veranderkundige? #508

Change in organizations often sounds like something you can plan, steer, and roll out smoothly. But according to Jaap Boonstra, it is precisely this technical approach that is reaching its limits. Particularly in education, healthcare, sustainability, and societal polarization, issues arise that do not fit into a single organization, discipline, or step-by-step plan. Yet, thinking about change has been strongly shaped by this 'narrow' technical approach to change (and learning). Change management is actually about something else: being able to observe well, understanding context, tolerating tension, and helping people give meaning to what is happening across boundaries. This discipline is therefore much messier than we like to assume. But is there still room for this way of looking at change in organizations? In the conversation, Boonstra explores how the field of change management has evolved: from a focus on labor and democratization to management thinking, and now once again to interplay surrounding complex societal issues. He makes a sharp distinction between change management as a technical approach and change management as a practice of observing, connecting, and acting in uncertainty. The role of universities of applied sciences, practice-based research, and professorships is also discussed, where, according to him, much of the future of the field is becoming visible. An important insight is that the change expert of tomorrow is much more than a planner; they are someone who can handle paradoxes, conflicts, societal tensions, and multiple perspectives simultaneously. For me, this podcast also marks the start of the summer holidays! Starting next week, I will be taking a few weeks off. The series will resume in mid-August, with a few great new episodes covering topics such as organizing differently, arithmetic in primary school, and high-performing schools. Have a wonderful summer holiday! Key points from the podcast: 🔍 According to Jaap Boonstra, change begins with careful observation and contextualization. Only when you understand what is happening in the classroom, school, neighborhood, or organization can you act wisely. 🧩 Change science is different from change management. While change management often becomes technical and systematic, change science revolves around people, meaning-making, tension, and dynamics. 🌱 According to Boonstra, the future of the profession lies in societal issues such as sustainability, healthcare, safety, polarization, and education. Without a connection to these issues, change science becomes redundant, in his view. ⚖️ A change management expert must learn to think in paradoxes rather than simple dilemmas. It is not about choosing between the individual or the group, economy or education, but about enduring and connecting both sides. 🎨 Art can help look at change differently. Visual arts, music, dance, or theater sometimes open perspectives that are not visible through rational analysis alone. Quotes from the conversation “For me, change always begins with looking very closely, observing, understanding dynamics, and consequently thinking: what is the sensible thing to do now?” “If we do not connect with societal issues from the perspective of change management, our role is simply played out. And rightly so.” “Let’s stop thinking in dilemmas. Let’s start thinking much more in paradoxes.” Timestamps 00:00 – Start of conversation 01:18 – Writing reflection 03:00 – Subject change 04:17 – Student doer 06:29 – Multiple perspectives 08:03 – Understanding context 10:33 – University shift 13:40 – Universities of applied sciences hope 18:40 – Historical development 23:11 – Tolerating difference 27:31 – Paradoxical thinking 31:16 – Societal challenges 32:56 – Sincere professional 37:01 – Changing art 41:51 – Leadership content