Positive leadership through the change curve
Recognise resistance, respond with clarity and keep people moving through change
Change may be agreed in a meeting, but people experience it differently. A restructure, new system or staffing change can generate energy in one colleague and uncertainty, frustration or resistance in another. If leaders dismiss every difficult response as negativity, they risk losing trust when it is needed most.
This focused 30-minute session uses the change curve as a practical lens—not a rigid sequence—to help leaders recognise what teams need as change unfolds. Positive leadership here is not forced optimism. It means listening, communicating honestly and adapting support while maintaining direction.
In this session we explore
Recognising common responses to change and what different behaviours may be signalling
Matching your leadership response to what people need, from clarity and listening to involvement and practical support
Communicating what is known, what remains uncertain and what happens next
Maintaining momentum through visible progress, feedback and realistic next steps
Take home points
A simple way to interpret reactions without labelling people as “difficult”
Practical prompts for conversations at different points in the change curve
A clearer approach to communicating uncertainty and sustaining trust
Confidence responding to resistance while retaining focus and accountability
This session is for
SBMs, SBLs and operational leaders guiding teams through new systems, restructures, staffing changes, service redesign or wider organisational change.
