Where it all started

I’ve always been fascinated by people, what makes them tick and why they do what they do. It was this fascination that led me to study Psychology which, in turn, brought me to Manchester, a place that it took me all of 20 minutes to fall in love with and where I’ve been ever since.

After university and a few years of working abroad and temping, at 25 I set up and ran a vegetarian delicatessen which became the first shop nationally to gain full Vegetarian Society approval. Looking back this was my first foray into innovation, creativity and seeing the big picture.

Three years later, I needed a change. What better way to combine my fascination with people with my love of Manchester than to secure a place on the first graduate trainee programme at the Council? 25 years later….

Manchester - nurtured in courage and innovation

I was encouraged and nurtured to develop as a generalist, frequently moving round to work in different departments. The knowledge, range of contexts, perspectives, approaches, professional disciplines, people and skills I worked with and my ability to join it all together is how I came to be a change specialist.

My approach »

Bringing ‘good trouble’

And of course, being an adopted Mancunian with our infamous reputation for doing things differently, I’ve found my own beat carrying on the path from my foray into veggie innovation to find creative ways of doing what I do. I’m also not averse to creating a bit of good trouble - I’m with Einstein on this one and his definition of insanity. If we really want change, we have to challenge ourselves and be up for doing things differently.

Challenging circumstances shaped my approach

Like most of us, I’ve had my challenges in life and it’s changed and shaped me. I used to be a fixer, charging in on my white horse, sorting problems out before riding off to fix the next thing that was wrong. The problem with being a fixer is that when you move on, things tend to go back to how they used to be.

I learned that we can’t “fix” people; people have to change themselves and my role, and the role of anyone wanting to make change happen, is to make sure they have the right things in place around them. It’s no different in organisations.

My approach »

Where I am today

For real and lasting change to happen, we have to work in the space where people and organisational change overlap. Empower people to change and don’t create the right environmental factors around them - culture, leadership, ways of working for example - and you’ll get frustration. Find that sweet spot in the middle and that’s when real change happens.

Today, I can draw on all of that experience and knowledge and the wisdom gained to continue my family tradition of self-employment. My dad instilled a strong work ethic in us all (I’m one of eight) and he showed us that there’s freedom, joy and fulfilment in doing things your own way and that that’s how you give people the best of what you have to offer.

Kath

Why Kath Smythe Collective?

Kath Smythe Collective is my consultancy. Working collectively is in my blood. It's only natural then that it underpins how I do business. It translates into how I'll work with you and your teams, how I draw on diverse knowledge and approaches and how I work with a fabulous collective of other freelance change consultants. This way you absolutely get me and the bespoke hands-on support that I bring as well as, where we agree it's beneficial, the support of a wider team.