Leading Change in the People Business
Photo by Vlada Karpovich
Momentum Consulting is in the people business. As a matter of fact, every organization is in the people business. Some companies are service-oriented and others are product-oriented, but the end result is the same — to help people. We are either looking for ways to provide better service or create products that yield better results. That’s the beauty of humanity. We are designed to discover better ways to improve our experience on all levels.
As we navigate our need to grow, we are ultimately faced with two competing forces: our drive to succeed and our resistance to change. This is where the struggle occurs.
As much as we want to grow, we also have a deep desire to keep things stable, comfortable, and predictable. This isn’t about being stubborn or inflexible. It’s biological. One of the goals of our emotional brain is to literally keep us alive. We have a primal mechanism designed to discern danger and ensure our survival. Thank goodness.
The challenge is that in today’s modern workplace, our nervous system often reacts to a text, email, meeting invite, or change of plans as if it were a threat to survival. We move so quickly into reaction that we miss the opportunity to pause, regulate, and choose a more appropriate and realistic response. This is where emotional intelligence and leadership presence become essential in change management.
I have been working with executives and senior leaders in a Fortune 500 company for over 16 years. The only thing that hasn’t changed is that there is always change.
A common executive coaching conversation centers around how we manage and lead organizational change effectively. Creating new processes, structures, and programs is the easy part. The people part is always the challenge. Every person’s tolerance for change is as unique as their fingerprint.
As expectations accelerate and performance pressures increase, I often hear leaders say they don’t have time to slow down and help their teams align with change. This comes at a significant cost.
Organizations invest heavily in automating systems and processes to increase productivity and operational efficiency. Yet there is often little consideration for nurturing the human experience — the emotions, concerns, and resistance that naturally accompany change. Sustainable organizational growth depends on both.
The way to accelerate change in people requires mastery of three simple but powerful leadership practices:
Be clear in your requests. Clarity reduces anxiety. Ambiguity fuels it.
Check for understanding. Alignment cannot be assumed. It must be confirmed.
Listen. Not to respond. Not to fix. But to understand.
Remember how I said we are in the people business? The path to sustainable success is to listen, validate, and acknowledge your people. Trust and psychological safety are built in moments where people feel heard.
We innately want to contribute value. Give your people permission to express concerns, offer feedback, and seek clarity. This is how you reduce resistance and strengthen team alignment. This is how you build resilient teams capable of navigating complexity.
How are you taking care of your people?
They are your number one asset.
In service to others,
Martha Lynn
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Fundamental of the Week #15: SET AND RECEIVE CLEAR EXPECTATIONS
Communicate your expectations clearly; make sure people hear what you are asking. Take care to understand what’s expected of you.
Momentum Consulting offers executive business coaching, top-level executive consulting, team training, and team off-sites to build and transform your business to the next level. Inquire about business consulting and leadership coaching today.
