Change Hurts: How to Lead Through Loss, Not Logic

Wise leaders don’t fight resistance—they honor the losses people experience

Thank you for all the thoughtful emails about last week's article on resistance. Many of you wanted more. This week I'm exploring the deeper psychology behind that resistance—specifically, why change feels like loss.

Adri Ansyah (Indonesia)/Unsplash+

The merger of two ad agencies was meant to be a perfect match. One agency was known for creating exciting ad campaigns, while the other had built strong, long-term client relationships. On paper, combining their strengths made sense.

The creative agency would offer bold, award-winning ideas that got people talking. The other agency would bring in loyal clients, generating sustainable, long-term growth.

But in reality, it was a match made in hell, not heaven.

Just three months after the merger, the rivalry was undeniable. Creative teams would develop breakthrough campaigns, only to watch account managers subtly kill them in secret client calls. Each side was withholding critical information, and instead of working together, they were trying to …