What Exactly is Change?
At its core, change is the process of moving from a current state to a desired future state.
That makes it sound simple, but it’s anything but. It involves:
Disruption of norms — breaking habits, routines, and assumptions
Uncertainty and resistance — people don’t fear change, they fear loss and frankly, they loathe the extra cognitive effort required to understand and learn the new thing.
Adaptation and learning — new skills, new mindsets, new ways of working
Change can be strategic (like a merger), operational (like a new system rollout), cultural (like shifting to a more inclusive workplace), or behavioural (like encouraging collaboration across silos).
Change is the art of helping people let go of the old, make sense of the new, and move forward with purpose. It’s not just about managing emotions — it’s about leading transformation.
Why Is It a Distinct Discipline?
Unlike business development or general management, change management focuses on the people side of transformation.
Change management demands a psychological lens — understanding motivation, identity, and group dynamics. It’s about narrative and meaning, not just metrics.
We look at adoption and engagement.
We foster empathy, communication, influence, self-awareness, resilience, collaboration.
We use stakeholder maps, change impact analysis, storytelling, and coaching as some of our tools.
What Makes It So Challenging?
Invisible forces: Organisational culture, power dynamics, and emotional undercurrents aren’t always visible but deeply affect outcomes.
Non-linear progress: Change rarely follows a straight path. It loops, stalls, accelerates, and regresses.
Human resistance: Even the most rational people resist change if it threatens their sense of competence, control, or belonging.
Unique Techniques & Viewpoints
Change practitioners often draw from:
Behavioural science (e.g. nudge theory, habit formation)
Systems thinking (seeing interdependencies)
Narrative strategy (crafting compelling visions of the future)
Coaching, mentoring and facilitation (unlocking individual and team potential)
Organisational psychology (understanding group behaviour)