Conversation starters for leading change

One of the most powerful tools leaders have during times of change is the conversations they have with their teams.

Instead of presenting a finished plan, use questions and prompts like these to open discussion, surface concerns and encourage ownership.

Invite people to shape the change

• “As I talk about these ideas, is anyone interested in helping shape what we do next?”
• “What ideas do you have for improving how we do this?”
• “What’s one small thing we could test to move this forward?”

Explain why the change matters

• “You’ve heard the business rationale, but I’d like to share why this change matters to me personally…”
• “Here’s the future we’re trying to create — what excites you most about it?”

Understand concerns

• “I know change can feel uncertain. What’s the biggest worry or concern this raises for you?”
• “When I said X earlier, what did you hear? Is there a clearer way I could explain it?”

Reinforce stability

• “We’ve talked about what might change, but here’s what is not changing.”
• “What would help you feel more confident about trying this?”

Encourage experimentation

• “Here’s one small thing I’d like us to try.”
• “What experiment could we run over the next couple of weeks?”

Create psychological safety

• “You may feel frustrated or uncertain at times — that’s normal. What’s important is that we talk about it.”
• “If this change starts to feel overwhelming, please let me know.”

Celebrate learning

• “Let’s take a moment to celebrate some wins this week — and some failures too. If we’re not failing, we’re not learning.”