Module Eight: Change
I knew we needed to change. What we were doing was simply not working. The problem was that I did not want to deal with the disruption that the change would cause. So I did nothing.
That’s when a wise friend reminded me that when you know something needs to be changed, you need to make adjustments quickly. She said that allowing the situation to continue would actually hurt the people you care about. She was right. Allowing ourselves to be driven by false hope only leads to foolishness.
I decided to implement the change. I will not sugarcoat it and tell you that it was easy. The change was hard, bumpy, and certainly not perfect. But it was the right thing to do.
The change impacted our direction, and ultimately, we achieved the results that we needed. It takes determination and courage to facilitate needed change in your life. My wise friend helped me remember what Albert Einstein once said: "Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over, and expecting different results."
Choose to take the hard path and make the needed change in your life. Do the hard thing, and you will make a difference.
Larry Little
Eagle Center for Leadership
When things begin to feel uncertain, people turn to their leaders for direction. Change is now a constant part of the leadership landscape. Plans evolve, conditions shift, and clarity is not always easy to find. In these moments, others are paying attention. They watch how their leaders respond. Are you steady, clear, and open to new possibilities? The way you show up during change has a direct impact on how others respond.
Leaders who navigate change well aren’t just reacting to circumstances. They are observing, reflecting, and choosing how to lead in real time. They respond to resistance with curiosity instead of frustration. They stay grounded when answers are unclear. And most importantly, they recognize that setbacks are part of progress, not signs of failure.
“Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.”
The Change module of The MSS Way is designed to help you build that mindset through four key sessions. Are You Built for Change? helps you identify your personal response to change and better understand the mindset needed to lead through it. Moving from Fear to Curiosity explores how uncertainty impacts decision-making, and how shifting your perspective can open the door to possibility and confidence. In Finding the Stretch Zone, you will learn how to embrace discomfort as part of growth, and how to help others move from hesitation to meaningful challenge. Finally, Turning Setbacks into Strengths offers practical ways to reflect, reset, and use failure as a tool to lead with greater resilience and intention.
At MSS, we view change as an opportunity to grow, not something to resist. How we respond to uncertainty, challenge, and failure shapes the kind of leaders we become and the strength of the teams we lead. A growth mindset means staying open, curious, and committed to learning, even when the path is unclear. It also means supporting one another and moving forward together. Change is not something we navigate alone. It takes a team. And when we grow together, we lead better together. Let’s begin!