Why Mindset, Not Strategy, Drives Real Change in Leadership
Jan 11, 2026Why Some Leaders Create Change — And Others Stall
Here’s a truth most don’t want to admit:
Change isn’t hard because it’s complex.
It’s hard because it’s personal.
Recently, I was working with two senior leaders — both respected, both facing serious pressure to adapt.
Their approaches couldn’t have been more different:
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One said: “We need to change.” Then added: “They need to change.”
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The other asked: “What do I need to do differently?”
Same challenge. Very different mindset.
One is standing outside the problem.
The other is stepping into it.
That difference? It changes everything.
The Nike Example Most People Misread
In the early ’80s, one of Nike’s first execs, Rob Strasser, wrote a list that became known as Nike’s 10 Commandments.
Here’s the very first line:
“Our business is change.”
It’s easy to read that and nod. It sounds logical. Even obvious.
But behind that line isn’t logic. It’s a mindset.
It’s the willingness to be uncomfortable. To let go of what worked before. To see change not just as necessary — but as the work.
And that’s what too many leaders miss.
The Real Reason Change Fails
Most teams don’t fail because they lack strategy.
They fail because they copy strategy without shifting mindset.
Here’s what happens:
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Someone says “We need to be more agile.”
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But they lead from control.
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Or they say “We need to move faster.”
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But they avoid difficult conversations.
The result? Nothing changes. Because nothing underneath has changed.
So Where Do You Start?
Not with a plan. Not with a workshop.
Start with one question:
“What do I need to do differently?”
That question tells your team: I’m in this. I’m not outside the problem. I’m part of the solution.
And it creates the emotional permission for others to do the same.
Because the fastest way to change a team… is to change how you show up to it.
Want help shifting the mindset behind your strategy?
That’s the work I do with senior leaders and teams.
Message me directly at [email protected]
Looking to shift how your team shows up?
Check out Elephant in the Room — our signature training programme for teams ready to build trust, speak honestly, and perform at a higher level.
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