HBR Guide to Leading Through Change

CHAPTER 14

Overcome Resistance to Change with Two Conversations

by Sally Blount and Shana Carroll

Across industries and sectors, the track record for organizational change is bleak. Research finds that anywhere from 50% to 75% of change efforts fail.¹ And for those that do succeed, many don’t achieve the goals of the original vision. Why is change so hard?

Usually, figuring out the right answer—whether it’s a new strategy, more efficient processes or systems, or a new structure that better meets the needs of a growing company—is not the challenge. The biggest hurdle to effective organizational change is people. A core part of your job as a leader is to help others overcome the inherent, very human bias toward maintaining the status quo.

In our ...