The Leadership Wave: Mastering Change and Transition
Change is the one constant in life — but that doesn't make it easy. In this episode of Leadership With a Twist, hosts Heather McGonigal and Barbara Schindler dig into why change feels so hard, how transitions actually work, and what leaders and professionals can do to navigate them with more clarity and confidence.
Drawing on William Bridges' classic book Transitions: Making Sense of Life Changes, they unpack the difference between change (the situational event) and transition (the psychological process underneath it) — and why understanding that difference is a game-changer for anyone in the middle of a major shift.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- Why humans are wired to resist change (and what your amygdala has to do with it)
- The three phases of transition: endings, the messy middle, and new beginnings
- How the "leadership wave" model helps you track where you are in a transition
- Why internal promotions often fail — and what leaders can do to fix it
- How to stop missing your own wins when you're deep in a change process
- Why support systems (coaches, mentors, friends) matter more than willpower during transitions
Whether you're navigating a career shift, a promotion, a life change, or just the relentless pace of change in business today, this episode gives you a framework to stop white-knuckling through transitions and start working with them instead.
Topics covered: change management, leadership transitions, personal development, organizational change, career growth, promotion coaching, business leadership, managing teams through change
About the Hosts: Coach Heather and Coach Barbara are the lead Executive Coaches of Empowering Leadership Teams. They specialize in helping entrepreneurial businesses and their teams meet the moment and become the most empowered they can be to work together and achieve optimal results. With deep expertise in leadership development, team dynamics, and navigating organizational transition, they bring practical, actionable wisdom to leaders facing the challenges of today's rapidly changing business environment.
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