Follow up resources from Expect the UnexpectedÂ
 Below are podcast episodes I've recorded on concepts related to the session. Most of them are 15 - 20 minutes in length, so it's easy to listen to an episode to review or share something we discussed.Â
A PDF of the slides from the session is posted below as well as the first few chapters of my book, Head On: How to Approach Difficult Conversations Directly.Â
Please let me know if there's anything I can assist with. Book a strategy session below and we'll talk about whatever's on your mind.
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Working ConversationsÂ
Companion episodes for "Expect the Unexpected"
Working Conversations Podcast (https://janelanderson.com/podcast or wherever you get podcasts)
Specific episodes related to the session:
Setting the Stage
Ep #254: Why Smart People Struggle with Change at Work
Why even capable, intelligent people resist change — covering loss of control, identity disruption, and grief. A grounding first listen that validates what your team is already feeling.
Ep #241: Adapting to Unannounced Change
What happens when change arrives with zero warning — and what leaders can learn about designing transitions that don't leave people confused and frustrated.
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Pillar 1: Gathering Divergent Data
Ep #248: Leading Through Uncertainty: Three Bold Predictions for 2026
A masterclass in reading signals under volatile conditions — modeling exactly how to look ahead when the ground is shifting and rigid plans stop working.
Ep #217: Future Proof Your Career and Organization
Five practical micro-habits for staying informed and ready. Concrete daily actions for building a future-scanning practice into your leadership routine.
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Pillar 2: Exploring the Adjacent Possible
Ep #216: How to Anticipate (and Create) the Future
The anchor episode. A deep dive into the adjacent possible — from Stuart Kaufman's biology research to how leaders can use the framework to spot opportunities that emerge immediately after change.
Ep #222: Netflix and the Adjacent Possible: What Streaming Made Possible
A real-world case study of the adjacent possible in action. How one quiet move by Netflix in 2007 cracked open a door to a completely new future — and what that means for how you lead.
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Pillar 3: Low-Risk Iteration
Ep #229: Why Planning Fails — and What to Do Instead
Why static plans don't work in volatile environments — and how to lead with prototypes, feedback loops, and iteration instead. Directly extends the keynote's third framework pillar.
Ep #228: Chunking Change: A Smarter Way to Lead Through Innovation
How to drive innovation without burning out your team — a practical framework for leading change in manageable, structured increments.
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Free book chapters of Head On
Anderson, Janel. (2018). Head On: How to Approach Difficult Conversations Directly. Gale House Press. Download the first few chapters here:  Download book chapters
Book a 16 minute strategy session with Dr. Janel
Use this time to get coached on an issue you're experiencing or talk about whatever is on your mind.Â
Book a Strategy Session