Rick is an organizational development consultant who specializes in understanding why people support or resist change in organizations. His book "Beyond the Wall of Resistance," which he wrote 30 years ago, changed his career trajectory.

In this insightful conversation, Rick shares his expertise on managing resistance to change, how his musical background influences his consulting approach, and valuable advice for self-employed consultants.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rimaurer/

Website: https://rickmaurer.com/

Show Notes

In this insightful episode of the Thriving Through podcast, host AJ Riedel interviews Rick Maurer, an organizational development consultant with over 30 years of experience who specializes in understanding why people and organizations support or resist change.

Key Insights and Career Journey
Rick shares how his book "Beyond the Wall of Resistance," published 30 years ago, fundamentally changed his career trajectory. The book challenged conventional wisdom about organizational resistance, arguing that people resist for good reasons - they're afraid, have other plans, or see different priorities. Rick explains how his thinking evolved from focusing solely on reducing resistance to understanding the full spectrum from resistance to active support.

His approach views support and resistance as a dynamic sliding scale rather than fixed states. Over time, he's refined his model to be fundamental yet simple to understand, making it accessible to clients while remaining profound in application.

Advice for Self-Employed Consultants
Rick offers valuable advice for consultants dealing with resistance:

Two categories of resistance: One category involves the relationship between people, which is where Rick's model helps. The second involves personal fears about lacking skills, which requires different approaches.
Handling uncomfortable situations: When clients are "freaking out," Rick emphasizes staying open to what's happening in the moment, being prepared with expertise, and maintaining a calm presence while collaborating on solutions.
Music and improvisation: Rick's background as a musician deeply influences his consulting approach. He values improvisation, adapting to unexpected situations, and dancing with clients rather than forcing predetermined solutions.
Project selection criteria: One of Rick's most transformative filters is asking, "Will this assignment give me as much pleasure as playing music?" This question emerged after experiencing three lucrative but unsatisfying contracts, helping him recognize when to decline work that doesn't energize him.

On Specialization vs. Flexibility
Rick recommends that early-career consultants try various projects to discover what truly energizes them while paying attention to when it's time to say no. His recommendation changes for consultants who already know their passion - for them, specialization makes more sense earlier.

He cautions that while you might love doing something, it needs to solve problems clients are willing to pay for. Being clear about your specialty can actually create more opportunity if it resonates with market needs.

On Books, Marketing, and Building a Practice
Rick shares candid thoughts on writing books in today's market. While his book dramatically elevated his perceived expertise (he jokes that "my IQ jumped 25 points" after publishing), he questions whether books have the same impact today given how easy self-publishing has become. He suggests consultants might consider YouTube content or shorter-form materials that showcase their expertise instead.

Final Advice
Perhaps the most actionable advice Rick offers is for consultants who are just starting or feeling plateaued: intentionally talk to ideal clients without selling. He recommends information interviews where you seek to understand their challenges, keep the time request reasonable (less than an hour), and always ask, "Is there anyone else I should talk to?" He credits this approach with helping him build his network and understand client needs authentically.

The interview concludes with Rick sharing his excitement about his upcoming webinar on getting organizational changes "unstuck" - demonstrating how even after three decades, he continues to find joy and energy in his work by exploring new angles of his expertise.

Rick’s contact info

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rimaurer/

Website: https://rickmaurer.com/

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