Change Hurts (Don't Make It Worse)—Your Shot of Fearless Culture #391
Where change agents find their weekly dose of culture insights and exercises, one topic at a time.
"How do we get more buy-in for this change?"
I hear this question a lot. Leaders want solutions to convince people, change minds, and overcome resistance.
But what if we're solving the wrong problem?
The real challenge is meeting people where they are—understanding that change, for them, represents loss. Acknowledging that loss is not enough, you must help them reframe that grief into something more meaningful.
You might be thinking, “If this is so simple, Gustavo, why is it so pervasive?” Well, simple doesn’t mean easy. Also, and most importantly, you need to address a structural disconnect: Leaders and people live in two different realities.
Leaders focus on the future. You get excited about next quarter's results, the strategic vision, and new markets to conquer.
Your people's identities are anchored in the present and past. Their sense of worth comes from relationships they've built, successes they were part of, and the meaningful work they've been delivering.
Change creates a divide between what was and what will be. People don't just resist the new approach—they're protecting their self-worth.
The more passionately you talk about tomorrow, the more irrelevant they feel today.
Meeting them where they are changes everything. Instead of fighting their attachment to the past, you honor their value while building a bridge to what's possible.
You can't logic someone out of loss. But you can acknowledge their grief and help them see how their strengths translate forward. By doing so, resistance quickly transforms into partnership.
Explore this week's newsletter:
My latest article → Change Hurts: How to Lead Through Loss, Not Logic
Practical tips and activities to honor grief while moving forward
Stay fearless, my friend.
Gustavo
How AI Redefines Team Collaboration
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I'm studying how AI is reshaping team collaboration, and some results are pretty telling. What about you? Take 2 minutes to share your experience
In Case You Missed It
→ Unlearning Is a Competitive Advantage
Ask Your Team This
What skills have made you successful so far, and how might they be even more valuable in this new reality?
⚠️ Try This
Preserving Your Team’s Identity
This exercise is ideal for teams going through major strategic shifts. Often, these changes challenge the narrative, and people feel like they're losing what made the team special.
Instead of dismissing these concerns, help your team consciously bridge their identity from past to future:
"What story do we tell about who we are that makes us proud?"
"What's the core of that story that we must preserve?"
“What are you most worried about leaving behind?
"How is this new initiative putting our identity at risk?"
"How can we turn change into a new chapter rather than a new start?"
Work together to write a "bridge narrative" that preserves team identity while embracing evolution.
🍦 Feed Your Curiosity
The neuroscience of leadership: how to make transformation succeed
A leader’s mood – the switch in performance
Building Employee Buy-In for Strategic Change
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Uncovering your actual culture (beyond the values on your wall)
Identifying the hidden gaps blocking change
Designing a culture that drives the behaviors you actually need
Learn more about the Culture Design Masterclass.
“Gustavo is amazing! I had been waiting for this class for months and it was worth the wait! I’m excited to continue the certification journey because one day is just not enough for the amount of wisdom he has to share.”
– Michelle
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Gustavo Razzetti
CEO, Fearless Culture