Leading and managing change

Change can take many forms - it may be planned or reactive, strategic or operational, gradual or transformational. Whatever the approach, successful change always depends on people. 

Effective leadership means understanding both how organisations change and how individuals respond to change. The resources on this page offer practical insights to support change at both an organisational and personal level. 

 Videos and podcasts

• Podcast 173: embracing and leading organisational change (30:00) 
  Experts from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) discuss change implementation, behavioural barriers, and how to support people and organisations through change. 

• Jim Hemerling: 5 ways to lead in an era of constant change (13:00) 
  In this TED Talk, organisational change expert Jim Hemerling explores the idea of “always-on transformation”, and shares five practical ways to make change more energising for everyone involved. 

• Change management in your veterinary practice (12:00) 
  Dr Jess Trimble, chief vet at Anipanion, a veterinary telehealth platform, chats with Kelly Baltzell, president and CEO of Beyond Indigo Pets, about navigating change effectively while keeping teams engaged and adaptable. 

• Kotter’s 8-Step Change Model explained (10:00) 
  A tutorial on change management expert John Kotter’s influential model for successful organisational change. 

• Lewin’s Change Management model (2:00) 
  An overview of psychologist Kurt Lewin’s ‘unfreeze, change, refreeze’ model of change, which explains the key actions needed for successful transformation.  

• Forcefield analysis: an introduction (4:00) 
  A brief introduction to Kurt Lewin’s widely used framework for identifying the factors that drive or hinder change within teams and organisations. 

• The Prosci ADKAR Model of Change (4:00) 
  Change management expert Tim Creasey explains the Prosci ADKAR model’s five building blocks for successful change. Learn practical strategies to guide your team, overcome barriers, and ensure change sticks. 

Articles and blogs 

• Leading change: why transformation efforts fail (15 min) - Kotter, J. P., Harvard Business Review  
  John Kotter, co-founder of Kotter International, outlines eight essential steps for successful change, based on observations of over 100 companies. 

• The four principles of change management (3 min) - Miranda, D. & Bottorff, C., Forbes Advisor  
  Explains the four key principles behind Kotter’s eight-step model, highlighting the importance of people, communication, leadership, emotions, and buy-in.

• Leading your veterinary team through change (8 min) - Dunn, L., VetMatrix  
  Veterinary expert Louise Dunn shares practical strategies for planning and managing change, helping teams become agile and adaptable.

• Ten tips for effective change management that puts your team first (10 min) - Sparrow, J., Forbes  
  Practical strategies for supporting teams through change, focusing on the human side of leadership.

• 3 strategies for managing change in your veterinary practice (6 min) - Vetsource  
  Guidance on supporting veterinary teams through change, with a focus on communication, culture, and staff involvement.

• 13 unlucky mistakes in managing traumatic change - and how to avoid them (10 min, subscription only) - Kanter, R M., Harvard Business Review  
  Identifies common leadership mistakes during traumatic change and offers practical advice on avoiding them.

• Three tips for managing resistance to change (5 min) - Kogan, V., Forbes  
  Explores ways to identify the root causes of resistance, engage senior leaders, and communicate change effectively.

• Using Bridges’ Transitional Model to guide workers through change (5 min) - Wallbridge, A., TSW Training  
  Introduces the Bridges Transition Model, which views change as a psychological transition rather than a single event.

• Managing change using the Kübler-Ross Change Curve (10 min) - Reiling, J., The Strategic Project Manager  
  Explains the Kübler-Ross model and how it can help in understanding emotional responses to change.

• Change wisely: why evaluation matters (5 min) - Eason, S., NHS Confederation  
  Discusses why evaluating change is essential and shares practical tips for measuring and monitoring impact.

• Emotionally intelligent leadership in a time of crisis: fear and reassurance (10 min) - Parkin, D., Advance HE Written at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, this article reflects on the importance of emotionally intelligent leadership during times of crisis.

Other materials

• Change management checklist - Chartered Management Institute (CMI) (free registration required)  
  A factsheet explaining why change management matters, highlighting common challenges, and summarising practical techniques to improve the chances of success.

• McKinsey 7-S framework for change  
  An interactive introduction to the McKinsey 7-S framework, which explores seven key parts of an organisation - strategy, structure, systems, skills, staff, style, and shared values - and how aligning them can support successful change.