Jo kicked off the discussion, talking about the importance of senior management commitment to successful change programmes and with it, the need for a certain mindset that embraces mistakes and failures. Allowing individuals to fail while embracing the opportunities and insights, that those failures create, is paramount in helping organisations pivot into something ultimately more successful than what they planned for.  

Jo talks about why the F word...failure, is not a dirty word and why, 'Failing fast but learning quickly', should be the mantra for all transformation programs.  

We discuss why the method for managing the roll-out of organisational change, and the right change management tools, is so important. Agile working with self-organising teams, help the organisation manage the ensuing chaos in a way that waterfall methodology could never hope to. 
The iterative nature of the Agile method and Agile skills generally, embeds 'learning from failure' from the outset. However, the cultural shift required to manage change does not come from the bottom-up and leaders can't underestimate the value of being comfortable with the uncomfortable. 

On the question of what does a successful change programme look like and how do you deliver aggressive change programmes without being or becoming aggressive yourself, Jo suggests that from the outset, it is important to bring your employees with you, be clear on the purpose and vision for the change and be clear on the roles that individuals have to play in the project and the company culture post project.

By engaging hearts and minds from the outset during the pre-project stage or what the Lewin's change management model calls, the 'Unfreeze stage', organisations can greatly improve the efficacy of the programme and help pave the way for cultural change post project. 

What is Three@Three?
Three@Three, is a weekly video chat, between Steve Plummer (One Pebble Consulting), Angela Prentner-Smith (MD This is Milk) and Al Morris (Transformation lead for This is Milk). Each week they tackle 3 questions topical to today.  Sometimes they will invite further collaborators.

Current, Upcoming and Past Three@Three episodes: 

Episode 12: 23rd July 2020 - The role of IT in transformation programmes 
In this week's 3@3, Al and Steve discuss:
1. Should the IT team lead or support digital evolution projects?
2. What does the ideal cross-departmental 
mix look like?
3. What happens if you don't have an IT department?​

Episode 11: 16th July 2020 - Creating a healthy cultures 
In this week's episode Al and Steve are joined by Kerry Freeman, an expert in cultural change and  owner of Free Human.
We ask Kerry:
1. What does a healthy culture look like?
2. How can experimentation help with behavioural change? 
3. How can I start experimenting?

Episode 10: 9th July 2020 - Top 3 tips
In this week's 3@3, Al and Steve discuss the top 3 things individuals and organisations should consider before embarking on a transformation programme.
​
Episode 9: 30th June 2020 - Culture Change
Al and Steve are joined by guest Jo McCallum, Chief Experience Officer at iDisrupt Digital. 

Our topic today is Culture Change and we ask Jo:

• Why do so many digital/technology driven transformations fail?

• How can you deliver an aggressive change agenda without being aggressive?

• How do you know when your culture has been 'transformed?

Episode 8: 25th June 2020 - Do what's right, not what's easy
In this weeks 3@3, Angela and Steve discuss why now, more than ever before, leaders need to
'Do what's right, not what's easy' and ask:

• Are the old models dying?
• Why do leaders HAVE to embrace the unknown and lead.
• Why do they need to accept that the evolutionary destination may lead to their own extinction?

Episode 7: 18th June 2020 - Data's role in Transformation
For this the 7th episode of 3@3, we discuss Data's role in Transformation with Alan Crawley, chief executive of Optima Partners, a customer consultancy specialising in customer transformation and data sciences and ask:

• Why are we even talking about data?
• Can data drive innovation and transformation?
• How can you ensure data is utilised effectively?

Episode 6: 11th June 2020 - Resilience in a crisis
We are once again joined this week by our special guest Dr. Deborah Benson, from Leaders for Leadership Ltd.

• Resilience & agility - what do these terms mean?
• Can Businesses come out of a crisis more resilient?
• Do companies need to change as a result of the pandemic?​

Over the the past 2-3 years This is Milk has become heavily involved in the world of upskilling & reskilling, with the creation of an award winning training programme, multiple client run training programmes (conducted around the world), and an in-depth research project looking at international best practice to direct Scottish Government in ongoing activities.

It has been a journey born from our want and desire as a business to solve problems, initially to tackle the issue of the digital skills gap in Scotland, swifty moving on and thinking larger to see us traveling the world and growing a community of experts that both advises and drives everything we do. One of these experts is local business transformation expert, Steve Plummer, who since meeting not much longer than 2 years ago, is now not just one of our trusted trainers, mentors and consultants, but a member of the This is Milk family.

Prior to a number of weeks ago, it was found that 70% of working professionals spent at least 1 day a week working remotely (IWG), with 53% working at least half of the week out of the office.

Remote working is not a new term, however it has been thrust into spotlight in recent weeks with many now forced into their homes for an unknown length of period trying to make the best out of this difficult situation.

​Make no mistake, for many, working from home (remotely) is not an easy transition or something that they are even set up for. Many have no desks at which to sit, poor lighting maybe, potentially children running around mad, not to even mention the isolation from colleagues and friends.
​It is understandable that this challenge for many, has been nothing if not, well challenging.

(Click 'Read More' to watch video recording of our 'Remote Working & Facilitation' session, as well as being able to download slides)