Episode 325: What if the secret to better problem-solving on your team isn’t having all the answers—but knowing how to handle their resistance to change?
When new ideas stall or your team hesitates to move forward, it’s not a lack of skill—it’s a signal. In today’s fast-changing workplace, great leaders know how to turn pushback into curiosity and collaboration. This episode gives you the tools to transform resistance into energy that drives results. Here’s what you’ll take away:
- How to build genuine trust so your team feels ready to engage with new ideas.
- A strategy for creating curiosity that fuels better problem-solving and innovation.
- Four proven steps to turn resistance into ownership, motivation, and momentum.
Press play now to learn how to inspire better problem-solving and make change something your team embraces—not avoids.
Transforming Resistance into Momentum
00:00 – Setting the Stage for Change
David introduces the episode’s focus—how to turn your team’s resistance to change into energy and collaboration that moves everyone forward.
00:55 – When Good Ideas Meet Silence
He paints a vivid picture of presenting a solid plan only to be met with blank stares, folded arms, and polite nods, highlighting how common this challenge is for leaders.
01:57 – The Secret Behind Binge-Worthy Leadership
David compares great leadership to great storytelling—using curiosity and unresolved tension to keep people engaged and wanting to know what happens next.
03:28 – Step 1: Build Connection First
Before introducing new ideas, establish real trust. People won’t engage in change unless they feel seen, respected, and genuinely connected to their leader.
04:38 – Step 2: Create Healthy Tension
Rather than jumping straight to solutions, frame the problem and let it breathe. This helps your team feel the urgency and develop their own drive to solve it.
07:10 – Step 3: Lead with Curiosity
Encourage your team to explore solutions instead of waiting for direction. Asking thoughtful questions sparks ownership and leads to better problem-solving.
Building Ownership and Better Problem-Solving
08:14 – The Power of Questions
David explains how curiosity-based leadership transforms resistance into innovation, with questions like “What happens if we don’t change?” inspiring reflection and creativity.
09:27 – Step 4: Move to Commitment
Once ideas emerge, clarify next steps—who’s doing what by when—to ensure progress sticks and builds lasting accountability.
10:24 – Schedule the Finish
Bake follow-up into the process to keep momentum alive. Regular check-ins help refine solutions and maintain engagement.
11:16 – The Leader as Showrunner
David closes with a powerful metaphor: leaders aren’t the heroes—the team is. Great leadership means shaping the story, creating curiosity, and guiding better problem-solving through shared ownership.
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