Why Your Team is (You are) Stuck: The Missing Piece in Your Change Plan
Susy Francis Best PsyD MBA
Motivational Speaker, International Bestselling Author, Executive Leadership Business Consultant, Coach and Strategist helping leaders THRIVE no matter what obstacles, challenges and opportunities occur.
?? You have a vision. Your leadership team (or you as an individual) is inspired. Your roadmap is clear.
But when it’s time to implement the change—your team gets stuck. Resistance creeps in. Deadlines slip. Excitement fades. Sound familiar?
You're not alone. 70% of change initiatives fail (McKinsey & Co). Not because the plan is flawed, but because most leaders overlook the human side of change.
The Story of a Stuck CEO—And How We Unstuck the Team
A CEO of a private medical practice hired my team me (Thrive) to conduct a current state analysis.
She had built a thriving practice, but growth had plateaued.
Her vision was bold:
? Expand services to meet patient demand.
? Hire new providers to reduce patient wait times. ? Improve efficiency in scheduling, billing, and workflows. ? Create a culture of ownership and accountability in her team.
She was all in—and her leadership team said they were too. The plan was detailed. The roadmap was mapped. But three months in, progress stalled.
?? The office staff struggled with new workflows. ?? Providers resisted changes to scheduling, fearing patient dissatisfaction. ?? Longtime team members felt overwhelmed and disengaged. ?? The CEO was frustrated—she had done everything “right.”
?? Enter the KISS Method. I introduced my KISS approach to Change Management:
? Keep Doing what’s working.
?? Increase Doing what aligns with the vision.
?? Start Doing new strategies to drive change.
? Stop Doing what’s holding them back.
Simple? Yes. But real transformation requires a deeper process.
Why Even Brilliant Leaders Get Stuck in Change
Change resistance isn't about logic—it’s about emotion.
Even when teams “agree” with the change, they often resist it because:
Even when teams “agree” with the change, they often resist it because:
?? Fear of the unknown – What if this doesn’t work?
?? Loss of control – I was comfortable with the old way.
?? Cognitive overload – Too much change at once.
?? Unclear expectations – What exactly am I supposed to do?
??Brain Science: Neuroscience proves that uncertainty triggers the same fight-or-flight response as physical danger.
?? Change Intelligence (CQ): People process change differently. They fall into one of four CQ styles:
A successful Change Management Plan must engage all four CQ styles.
The Secret Weapon: A Change Management Plan That Works
The CEO and her leadership team were missing a critical piece—a structured change management plan that addressed both strategy and psychology.
Here’s how we shifted from stuck to unstoppable:
1?? Created a High-Level and Detailed Communication Plan ??
People don’t resist change; they resist uncertainty. The key is consistent, transparent communication.
We implemented biweekly leadership updates with clear expectations, action items, and team-wide accountability.
?? Pro Tip: Clarity reduces fear. Employees need to know why the change is happening, how it benefits them, and what their role is.
2?? Made Accountability Non-Negotiable ??
Accountability isn’t micromanagement—it’s commitment. Each team member owned a specific part of the transformation.
?? Best Practice: Hold staff accountable with metrics-driven goals. No vague promises—only measurable results.
3?? Implemented Continuous Improvement Loops ??
Change isn’t one-and-done. Ongoing feedback, realignment, and adaptation ensure success.
We set up: ? Monthly progress reviews. ? Anonymous employee pulse surveys. ? “Win & Learn” debriefs to refine the plan.
The Result? Exceeding Expectations & Beating Timelines ??
With Thrive Group International facilitating, this practice went from stuck to thriving.
? Expanded services successfully while maintaining patient satisfaction.
? Streamlined workflows, reducing inefficiencies by 30%.
? Created a culture of ownership—staff felt empowered.
? Increased revenue 25% in six months by optimizing billing and scheduling.
The Key to Change Success? Change Intelligence + A Change Plan
?? Change Management isn’t just about strategy—it’s about implementation.
This principle is at the heart of Habit #6: Change Management – Embracing Growth from my book, The 7 Habits Unveiled: Cracking the Rich Code.
In the book, I go even deeper into:
? Why even the best leaders get stuck when implementing change.
? How to recognize resistance before it derails your strategy.
? The neuroscience-backed method to make change "stick."
?? If you found this post valuable, the next step is simple: Get the full chapter in my book! ??
? Get your copy here: ?? Buy Now
Leaders: Your Change Plan is Incomplete Without This
If your team is struggling with resistance, misalignment, or slow adoption—it’s not a leadership failure. It’s a change management gap.
That’s where we come in. Thrive Group International specializes in turning strategy into action—with a proven Change Management framework that delivers measurable results.
?? Let’s talk. Message me to discuss how your organization can: ? Optimize goals & increase profitability ? Improve team performance & engagement ? Enhance customer loyalty & market positioning
?? The question isn’t “Will change happen?” The question is: Are you ready to lead it?
#Leadership #ChangeManagement #BusinessGrowth #ChangeIntelligence #StrategyToExecution #ThriveGroupInternational #The7HabitsUnveiled #CrackingTheRichCode #EmotionalIntelligence
Leadership Coach and Organizational Transformation Advisor. TED Presenter and Author
11 小时前Takes courage to implement change Susy Francis Best PsyD MBA. With all of the great intentions and strategies, when the rubber meets the road, people experience fear, apprehension, sometimes joy -- lots of emotions. Leadership must learn how to navigate chang and manage it. And they are lucky to have you, Susy guide and support them through this.
Mindful Leadership & Well-Being | Coach & Trainer using neuroscience, mindfulness & mind-body principles | Neuroscience of implicit bias | Elevating “soft skills” | Yoga & mindfulness
1 天前Understanding those resistance points is really helpful. Also love the CQ styles. Congrats on the impressive results!
CEO Go For Growth. Dispute resolution mediator, leadership, team, Space To Think lead coach. I design a place for leaders to think about long term relevance and resolve issues. Avid singer, artist and problem solver.
1 天前The human aspects of change are often the delicate silver thread of success or failure.
Author, conference speaker, teacher, yogi. Committed to Human Flourishing, creating greater love, compassion, joy and equanimity . Founder of Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy (1986) and Let's Flourish Community (2023)
1 天前Helpful strategies you offer here Susy Francis Best PsyD MBA. Thank you.
I help project teams align, make smart decisions, and drive results | Opportunity Framing | Facilitation | Strategic Workshops | Stage-Gated Process Light | Founder & Host of Sunshine Summit Conference
1 天前Love it. Most initiatives fail because of many things: lack of people's involvement at the start, poorly design change processes, lack of buy-in. Also, its time to treat initiatives like as project - they need a clearly defined value proposition before they proceed. Thats why #opportunityframingworkshops are such a game changer.