The OARS of Real Engagement
The Change Signal with John Anthony
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John Anthony joins me to unpack why so many change conversations in large organizations stall, even with experienced leaders at the helm. He draws from motivational interviewing to show how change works best when it’s done with people, not to them.
We talk about why your first job is positioning yourself as a supporting partner, not a persuader. JA explains the power of OARS — open-ended questions, affirmations, reflective listening, and summaries — as a simple way to diagnose whether you’ve actually engaged someone before asking them to move.
We also explore resistance as a source of insight rather than something to avoid. JA makes a compelling case that paying attention to the discord is what shifts people from outright cynicism into genuine consideration.
If you lead transformation, change management, or complex initiatives, this conversation with John Anthony offers practical tools and a more human way to navigate the messy middle of change.
Here are three provocative questions that arise from this Change Signal conversation with John Anthony:
Are you engaging people before you try to influence them?
What resistance are you avoiding that you should be exploring?
And how do you know whether you’re dancing with someone… or wrestling?
ABOUT JOHN:
John Anthony is a motivational interviewing expert, facilitator, and co-host of the Kindred Spirits podcast. He helps leaders and organizations navigate change through better conversations, deeper engagement, and more human-centered approaches to influence.
John Anthony at Transcend – https://transcend.com.au
Music Credits: Rest in the Garden - SackJo22 ft Duckett & The Stubble Field Break (Mana Mixed) - Mana Junkie ft Apoxode
