Most change initiatives fail for one reason: people struggle with the internal shift change requires. This article explores how neuroscience strengthens classic change management theory by reducing learning anxiety, building resilience, and helping people actively move through transition. When organisations support both the system and the self, change becomes sustainable.

If 2025 was the year leaders realised something isn't lining up between strategy and delivery, 2026 will be the year that gap becomes impossible to ignore. Here's what I think will separate the organisations that deliver from those that just stay busy.

If 2025 could be summed up in one line, it would be this: Strategy has never been more ambitious. But the real differentiation lies in teams that can deliver without burning out. Across resources, utilities, government and not for profits, we’ve spent the year listening to leaders, working alongside teams, and continuing our People, Productivity and Performance research. This isn’t a victory lap. It’s a reflection on what we’ve seen, what we’ve learned, and what this year dem

Clay, Laughter and the secrets of Team Building Staff takeover blog written by Hazel Thom Our team is full of high performing, high...

“We’ve kicked it off—it’s in progress.”  We hear it all the time.    But behind many of these statements is a quieter truth:    Most...

Each year around this time, I notice a shift in tone during conversations with clients. The words change—some say “we’re crawling to the...

Strategic Drift- The silent force derailing strategy Written By Marcus Ward The silent force derailing strategy — and how to spot it...

Image Credit Marc Hundleby - Twenty2 Collective If you’ve spent any time in delivery—whether as a sponsor, PM, team lead, or exec—you’ll...

A few years ago, I walked into a meeting with a leadership team at a State Government Agency . Their PMO was struggling, and frustration...

Are You the Bottleneck in Your Own Organisation? Most leaders don't wake up thinking, I'm the problem. But sometimes, we are. And in industries like resources, utilities, government, and not-for-profits, where projects run on tight margins, complex regulations, and demanding stakeholder expectations, a leader's self-awareness can mean the difference between project success and costly failure. The best leaders don't just assess their teams. They assess themselves. In this arti

The Real Challenge of Change Management Over the years, I've worked with leaders across resources, energy, utilities, and government who are responsible for delivering major transformation projects. They face challenges like: "We've rolled out new systems, but people keep reverting to the old ways." "We're leading an industry shift, but our people are just fatigued." "We've explained why the change is happening, but engagement is still low." At the core of these challenges is

My Own Road to Burnout A few years ago, I wore burnout like a badge of honour. Back-to-back meetings, high-pressure deadlines, constant demands. I told myself this was what high performance looked like. I convinced myself that exhaustion was proof of commitment and just kept pushing through. Then the cracks started to show. My productivity dipped. My patience wore thin. The passion I had for my work felt more like a distant memory than a driving force. I ended up in a place I

Recently, I had the privilege of visiting Malaysia, a vibrant country where diverse cultures, traditions, and industries come together in...

In today’s workplace, happiness has shifted from being a “nice-to-have” to a strategic imperative. Businesses across Australia are...

By integrating clear corporate values with the practice of strategic quitting, you equip your team and organisation to make better decisions

What if, instead of waiting for January, you used October to reset, reflect, and focus? Enter the “October Resolutions”.

In our research at Twenty2 Collective, we’ve uncovered key factors that distinguish high-performing teams that are also genuinely happy.

Most people who know me, know I’m a football tragic. I've enjoyed the coverage from Euro 2024 and the reflections it has created so far. ...

Why Most Managers Get Difficult Conversations Wrong If you've ever dreaded giving a team member tough feedback, you're not alone. Most managers either avoid the conversation altogether, or fall back on the feedback sandwich, opening with a compliment, dropping the criticism in the middle, and finishing with another positive. Good. Bad. Good. LinkedIn lit up recently after SmartCompany ran a piece on exactly this, referring to it as the "sh*t sandwich" model. And the response

[ Why Your Project Kick-Off Meeting Matters More Than You Think In my experience, kick-off meetings are much like the starting pistol of a marathon. They signal the beginning of a journey that requires endurance, teamwork, and a clear path forward. Just like a wedding ceremony sets the tone for a marriage, a well-run project kick-off meeting establishes the foundation for everything that follows. And yet, in organisations across Australia, particularly in resources, construct