Published July 28th, 2026 

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Change is everywhere in your organization. But how does it feel when it happens? Smooth and energizing — or closer to dread, disruption, even betrayal?

If you're honest, does change in your workplace get a passing grade?

Research shows most change efforts fail. The old line is that "people don't like change" — and that's not wrong, exactly, but it's incomplete. What people don't like is being changed at. Not knowing what's shifting, why, or what it means for how they do their job tomorrow. Not being asked what they think about the "solution" before it's already decided.

Here's a scenario I've seen variations of many times over the years. A few principals at a law firm decide to merge with another firm — more business, more capacity, a smart move on paper. Before it's even announced, the rumor mill gets there first, and resistance spreads faster than the news. Leadership calls a meeting to share the "good news." It lands as anything but. Frustration mounts, because from where they sit, they can't understand why anyone would resist such a clear win.

This isn't a failure of vision. Leaders are usually right that the opportunity is real. Where it falls apart is how the change gets introduced — and who gets a voice in shaping it before it's finished being decided.

The fix isn't complicated, even if it takes real work: bring in a process — and ideally someone experienced in change management — that involves the people the change will actually affect. Not just to soften the blow, but because the people closest to the work often see problems and improvements leadership can't. Done well, a change initiative doesn't just avoid resistance — it strengthens the team on the other side of it.

Or you can skip that step, and quietly blame the people who resisted for the change that failed.

I've spent 30 years working with teams, nonprofits, and organizations across industries — and I keep seeing the same pattern: people who don't have a way to help implement change well, no matter the field. That's what I help with.

If you're facing a change that matters, let's start with a free consultation — no commitment, just a conversation about what you're up against.