BONUS SEASON: The Complexity Conundrum

What if what's defeating us isn't the speed of change but the complexity — multiple crises amplifying each other in ways that no forecasting tool was ever built to handle? In this third episode of Season 7 — The Change Fatigue Remedy Series — Dr Michelle McQuaid sits down with Dr Margaret Heffernan, professor of practice at the University of Bath and author of Embracing Uncertainty , to explore why the focus on efficiency leaves organizations more fragile when complexity hits — and why we need to prioritize optionality instead. Drawing on her work with organizations navigating the polycrisis , Margaret introduces the shift from just-in-time to just-in-case thinking, the early warning system every workplace needs , and what it looks like to trust ourselves and each other in the midst of unpredictability. 01:36 Margaret explains why we struggle with uncertainty — and why the promise that data and models c an deliver certainty is oversold . 05:00 Margaret outlines what the world's best forecasters say about how far ahead anyone can reliably predict changes — and what that means for our strategy plans . 08:04 Margaret makes the case for optionality over efficiency: when a surprise comes along, running too lean leaves you more fragile . 12:41 Margaret explains the polycrisis — multiple crises amplifying each other — and why supply chains built for maximum efficiency have become a liability when complexity hit. 19:29 Margaret introduces the shift from just-in-time to just-in-case thinking — and the shares examples of how this builds resilience in workplaces. 26:22 Margaret describes what a language of uncertainty sounds like for leaders: not an admission of defeat, but naming what's complex and opening the conversation to options. 28:03 Margaret outlines the practice of naming your assumptions after a decision — and agreeing in advance on the signals that would tell you the plan isn't playing out as intended. 32:09 Michelle shares what the Change Lab research found at the organisational level: making help-seeking the norm and breaking change into tiny steps so teams can sense, learn, and adapt. Take our free five-minute change survey to see how you're navigating change right now at thechangelabs.com. Want to go deeper? Explore evidence-based tools for navigating change — including our self-paced certificate in leading the heart of change — at thechangelabs.com.

You can listen to BONUS SEASON: The Complexity Conundrum online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

BONUS SEASON: The Complexity Conundrum is an episode from Making Positive Psychology Work Podcast by Michelle McQuaid: Positive Psychology Teacher | Playful Change Activator | Huffington Post Blogger.

This episode is 42:35 long.

This episode was published on Mar 31, 2026.

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