From Participant to Catalyst: Key Insights on Leading Change
The 2026 Thrive Series launched with a dynamic session designed to help professionals strengthen one of the most important capabilities in today’s organizations: leading change effectively.
In Leading Change: From Participant to Catalyst, change leadership expert Adam Shoer, Owner and Principal of Just Change, shared practical insights into why many transformation efforts struggle and what professionals at every level can do differently.
For professionals working across complex, matrixed organizations, the session focused on a simple but powerful idea: change doesn’t succeed because of new systems or strategies. It succeeds when people adopt new ways of working.
Below are five key insights from the session that resonated strongly with participants.
Insight 1: The Real Reason Transformations Fail
When organizational change initiatives stall, the problem is rarely technology, platforms, or process design. Transformation typically fails because people never truly adopt the new way of working.
Successful change requires helping teams understand and believe in the future state. When people see how they fit into the change and why it matters, they are far more likely to embrace it.
THE TAKEAWAY: Transformation is ultimately a human challenge, not a technical one.
Insight 2: Expect the “Messy Middle”
Change rarely follows a clean, linear path. Instead, most transformations move through what Adam described as the “messy middle.” During this stage, teams often operate with one foot in legacy processes and one foot in the future state.
People move forward, step back, adjust, and learn as they adapt to new systems and expectations. Leaders must remain visible and consistent during this phase to reinforce the direction of change.
THE TAKEAWAY: Progress during transformation is rarely smooth, but persistence and support make the difference.
Insight 3: Co-Ownership Drives Adoption
One of the most effective ways to accelerate change adoption is to give people a sense of ownership. Even when much of a transformation is determined by organizational strategy, allowing teams to shape part of the implementation dramatically increases engagement.
When people feel they helped create the solution, they are far more likely to support it.
THE TAKEAWAY: Agency fuels commitment.
Insight 4: Stop Spamming Your Stakeholders
Communication is essential during transformation, but more communication is not always better. Sending every update to every stakeholder can dilute the message and reduce engagement. Instead, leaders should map stakeholders by impact and influence.
Prioritize deeper communication with those most affected by the change while keeping others appropriately informed.
THE TAKEAWAY: Strategic communication is more effective than constant communication.
Insight 5: Recognition Must Be Specific and Immediate
Change requires energy, effort, and emotional investment from teams. One of the most effective ways to reinforce new behaviors is through timely and specific recognition.
Rather than generic praise, leaders should highlight exactly what someone did well and why it mattered. This kind of recognition strengthens motivation and encourages others to adopt the same behaviors.
THE TAKEAWAY: Recognition reinforces the behaviors that sustain change.
Continue the Thrive Journey
The Thrive Series continues throughout 2026 with additional sessions designed to strengthen business acumen and strategic leadership across the life sciences community.
Upcoming sessions will explore how to communicate ideas in business terms that resonate with decision-makers, interpret the signals shaping life sciences strategy, and turn insights into meaningful innovation within organizations.
Here’s what’s coming next in the Thrive Series:
JUNE 11th | Speak Their Language: Positioning Ideas for Maximum Impact
Learn how to communicate your ideas in clear business terms that resonate with decision-makers and secure stakeholder buy-in.
SEPTEMBER 10th | Cracking the Code: Business Signals That Shape the Future
Understand the clinical, regulatory, market, and financial signals that shape decision-making in the life sciences industry.
NOVEMBER 3rd | From Insights to Impact: How Every Professional Can Innovate
Discover practical ways to identify opportunities, test ideas, and contribute to innovation within your organization.
The most influential professionals don’t wait for transformation to happen around them. They lean in, understand the signals, communicate strategically, and help shape what comes next.
