Transformational Space: Navigating Organizational Change Through Hope and Wound

Introduction: The Space Between Change and Transformation (Part 1)

In my journey from business leadership to coaching people through emotional and spiritual growth, one insight stands out: organizational change does not just affect operations—it profoundly impacts people. It creates what I have come to call the Transformational Space, where change either cultivates hope or leaves wounds.

I have recognized that, for many individuals and to varying degrees, the changes their organizations make directly affect their performance and, ultimately, their investment in their organization. I am certainly not suggesting that organizations cannot or should not make changes. In my personal and business life, I firmly believe it is best to change before I have to (or am forced to). In his book Managing in Turbulent Times, Peter Drucker puts it this way: "The greatest danger in times of turbulence is not the turbulence—it is to act with yesterday's logic."

What has risen to the surface over the last few years, coaching and connecting with many staff of these organizations and helping them work through change, is what I have come to call the Transformational Space. When I think of transformational space, I see it as the cultural and emotional impact of change that emerges due to leadership's decisions.

When employees talk about it, I hear that when organizational leadership implements structural, cultural, or procedural change, it introduces more than just operational shifts in their jobs. The change creates a space (transformational space), which is an unseen but deeply felt space where employees process the uncertainty as a loss or opportunity. I have come to name the loss and opportunity as either wound (loss) or hope (opportunity). It is in this transformational space that where wounds or hope take root:

• Wounds: When change feels abrupt or dismissive, it leaves emotional scars—manifesting as mistrust, resistance, and disengagement.
• Hope: When change is communicated with clarity and empathy, it inspires trust, resilience, and renewed commitment.

As Parker Palmer describes, "The space between reality and possibility is where transformation happens." Similarly, the Transformational Space is not an afterthought—it is the defining space where change becomes an opportunity for growth or a source of long-term damage. Over the next few weeks, I will further unpack this idea, offering a deeper perspective on the Transformational Space what I have noticed about:

1. The emotional tipping points for hope and wounds.
2. Practical leadership strategies to nurture hope.
3. Real-world examples of how transformational spaces shape organizational culture.

While there is always room for improvement, I hope this material catalyzes leaders and staff to collectively introduce the "new logic" critical for business success and personal growth in a way that invites hope into the Transformational Space.

What do you think? How does your organization navigate the Transformational Space during change? I would love to hear your thoughts as we unpack this and reimagine how change can lead to growth, trust, and resilience.