06/02/2026
A powerful realization emerged through Brianna’s work behind the Forbes-featured guide, “Leading Through Free Fall.”
It’s this: Resistance is a collective response to change.
More specifically, it’s a signal that people are processing some kind of loss.
We see the warning signs of this grief curve all the time in:
• The stakeholder who suddenly questions everything.
• The team that disengages right as clarity starts to take shape.
• The project that loses momentum the moment real implications surface.
These moments are easy to interpret as standard misalignment friction.
But more often, they reflect something deeper.
When you start to look at these situations through that lens, your role as a leader shifts.
Instead of pushing the work forward, you begin to listen differently:
• Where is this team in the process?
• What are they reacting to?
• What feels at risk for them right now?
You learn that progress comes from helping people work through what the change actually means, so they can move forward with clarity.
When you meet people where they are:
The conversation shifts, and defensiveness softens.
The work gains momentum. People become not only ready for the change—they are championing it.
This is one of the many reflections that continue to emerge from “Leading Through Free Fall” and from the real-world work behind it.
If you’re navigating resistance in your organization right now, it may be worth asking:
Where is your team stuck in this change curve?
How might you help them process those emotions to regain momentum and alignment?
