Why Does Change Fail? How Can Leaders Prevent Failure?
In this episode of Ask The Professor, Professor Ben teams up with co-host Ari Justice and welcomes back Allison Cummins, founder of Blue Outcomes and an expert in project and change management.
Together, they unpack the challenges of leading teams through organizational change, exploring the common reasons initiatives fall short and the leadership strategies that turn them around. From creating urgency to empowering change champions, the conversation delivers actionable insights to help leaders overcome resistance and drive lasting impact.
Here’s what you’ll walk away with from this episode:
- Create a Sense of Urgency: Change only happens when teams understand the “why.” Leaders must clearly communicate the consequences of inaction and the benefits tied to organizational values and individual roles.
- Leverage Change Champions: Peer leaders across departments help spread excitement, identify challenges early, and provide actionable feedback to ensure smooth adoption.
- Communicate Clearly and Often: Frequent, transparent communication prevents misalignment and helps teams see how the change fits into the bigger picture.
- Plan for Short-Term Wins: Celebrating milestones keeps teams engaged, reinforces progress, and prevents momentum from stalling during long-term initiatives.
- Address Cultural Resistance: Without full adoption, old habits return. Leaders must actively support new ways of working, reinforce training, and model behaviors aligned with the change.
We’re bringing back Allison for a future episode to continue the conversation. If you have any questions about creating change in your team, send them in and we’ll cover it in a future episode!
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