Episode 109:
In this time of accelerated change and complexity, companies and communities need change agents to help unlock collective wisdom – and they need it NOW. This new breed of leaders, coaches, experts, and guides are the ones that know how to design human interactions that create psychological safety, accelerate widespread learning, and bring out whole new possibilities in teams and communities.
As the founder of the XCHANGE Approach, now used by hundreds of change agents globally, Jon Berghoff focuses on the art of question design, the science of engineering conversations, and the change that is possible at speed and scale using the XCHANGE Approach.
When COVID hit, industry-leading companies and communities utilized XCHANGE (all remote & digital) to solve unprecedented problems, reimagine a new future, and create new ways of working together. This explosion of demand for online facilitation has driven XCHANGE revenues up 40% above 2019.
As a former executive for Vitamix – where revenue grew by 400% in 4 years – and an adjunct teacher at Case Western Reserve University’s globally ranked Weatherhead School of Management, Jon’s refreshing approach combines scientific research and real experience for one of the most relevant conversations today.
What you’ll learn about in this episode:
- What Jon did not believe in before Covid
- The best way of unlocking wisdom in a room
- Why valuing the passing of information is going to go away
- The guiding principles for running an event
- How technology affects integrated experiences
- What happens if you don’t ask good questions in business
- How Jon’s customers influenced his business early on
- The difference between superficial questions and deep questions
Resources:
- Website: https://xchangeapproach.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonberghoff/
The Business of Connecting
Jon Berghoff is the founder of the XCHANGE Approach. His company helps facilitate meaningful dialogue and change at an accelerated pace. Jon is a second time guest on the Intentional Greatness podcast, and Sue has seen his work firsthand in his virtual events. In this episode, Jon and Sue discuss how Jon was able to pivot in 2020 and shift his business to a hybrid model.
Pivot Inducing Questions
At the beginning of the pandemic, Jon found himself sitting in uncertainty like most of us. During a conversation, he was asked, “if Covid was not going away – what business would put your business out of business?” Jon explains why this question was so crucial to changing his business model. It’s important to be able to pivot and adapt to changes. Jon shares how he pivoted during the pandemic, after hearing this one question.
Redefining The Workplace
Jon initially thought that his business could only be done through in-person live events. After the pandemic he realized that he needed to adapt. But, shifting an entire business model is difficult. The challenges of integrating a live and virtual audience are complex. During our conversation, Jon shares the importance of bringing out the same level of wisdom and energy in the room while navigating multiple audiences.
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