Why Change Doesn’t Always Feel Good – Even When It’s Right
Change is a funny thing. We chase it, we plan for it, we build entire strategies around it. But when it actually arrives? It can knock the wind out of us no matter how prepared we are.
I’ve spent most of my career helping people navigate change: restructures, leadership transitions, cultural shifts, new systems. And yet, when I recently stepped into the role of CEO here at The Growth Collective, I was reminded of something I already knew… but needed to feel again:
Even good change can feel hard.
The Hidden Cost of Change
Here’s what we don’t talk about enough: every change no matter how positive requires us to leave something behind.
It might be:
The comfort of the familiar
A role we’d mastered
An identity we’d built
A rhythm that felt safe
To the brain, that “leaving” registers as loss. And where there’s loss, there’s often resistance, grief, or anxiety. That doesn’t mean the change is wrong. It means we’re human.
So if you or your team are in a season of change and feeling a little wobbly, here’s your reminder: you’re not broken. You’re not behind. You’re adjusting.
If You’re Leading Through Change…
Change is a critical part of leadership but so is holding people through it. Here are three things that help:
1. Acknowledge that change feels different for everyone
Just because it’s a promotion, a new role, or an exciting restructure doesn’t mean it won’t come with fear. Some people jump in feet first. Others need to feel the water first.
2. Name what’s being lost
This step is often skipped. But before people can fully embrace a new beginning, they need space to acknowledge what they’re letting go of whether it’s autonomy, clarity, or just familiarity.
3. Support people to move forward at their own pace
You can’t force people through a change curve. What you can do is offer clarity, connection, and consistency while they get there.
Leading Ourselves, Too
As we move into a new season at Growth Collective, I’m walking that change curve myself. It’s not always comfortable but it is rich with learning.
So wherever you are leading through change, navigating it yourself, or just feeling a little off-rhythm here’s your permission slip:
You don’t have to feel great about change for it to be the right one.
You just have to keep showing up.
Here’s to new beginnings (and being honest about how they feel).
