When we hear the word “change,” it can evoke powerful feelings spanning from fear to excitement with the anticipation of the unknown.
For some people, depending on their perspective and circumstances, change can be truly paralyzing, but for others, it can spur on creativity and engagement.
Wise leadership is essential during challenging times and requires the ability to know how to inspire others throughout a wide spectrum of circumstances, from lessening anxieties within an organization to channeling either negative or positive energy into a purpose-driven plan that creates exciting momentum.
If you’re a far-sighted business leader who can see positive opportunities within change, you can set the tone by uniting people to share what they consider as their positive purpose to help achieve favorable results. If your leadership view is more immediate and fearful, your narrow focus tends to skip personal expression and solely chases short-term financial goals — which can slow down momentum because it lacks collective purpose and acceptance. A key question during tumultuous times is, “How do we unite those with opposing viewpoints and strong opinions?”
This question can be especially relevant during times of political unrest, when many people are experiencing a lack of control over their changing circumstances. The answer is often found in leveraging any change that individuals value and which they can respond to with optimism. This requires some surveying, respectful team discussions, and perhaps a vision board to co-create a unity plan!
Outstanding examples of those leaders who knew how to leverage change for good within their organizations can be found in the winners list of the Top Impact Companies of 2025! We congratulate and appreciate every impact business who made the list. Support them in any way you can.
CEO Shelley Zalis, of The Female Quotient, is a great example of how to turn challenging topics into positive perspectives, which can change behavior. Read her inspiring cover story interview from the spring edition to find out the one goal you should achieve in your lifetime.
The common thread among many of these purpose-driven CEOs is leveraging their team’s input for positive change, creating mutually beneficial outcomes.
The process of change can be the same in “normal times” as well as in turbulent times. When a CEO is trying to shift thinking or adopt a new program, they can get their team to rally around a collective North Star vision if the players help co-create the vision that provides the change for good.
I’ve learned not to get discouraged by the people who resist change that I view as positive. Instead, I focus on supporting the 10% or 20% who are early adopters. They, in turn, bring the others around over time.
As Charles Darwin once said, “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” Patience and persistent input, aligned with a spirit of uniting for the greater good, will keep the wheels of change in constant motion while keeping people connected.
