The Change Curve

Owned by Darlene Edgar
Feb 11, 2024
1 min read

Expert Program Management. (2017, January 20). The change curve [Video]. YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOul0fb3g0Q

  • The change curve helps us understand how people emotionally experience a major disruption, which is essential for organizations to adapt and continue to exist.

  • People often struggle with change due to factors such as routines, attachment to the status quo, feeling threatened, and fear of job loss.

  • The change curve coincides with the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.

  • The stages of the change curve include shock, denial, frustration, depression, experiment, decision, and integration.

  • Understanding the change curve gives managers an advantage in managing change by accelerating the speed at which people move along the curve and reducing the depth of depression experienced during the change.

  • Communication styles need to be adapted during different stages of change:

    • During shock and denial, provide clarity.

    • During anger and depression, offer emotional support.

    • During acceptance and rebuilding, provide direction, guidance, and support.

  • The change curve explains how people emotionally experience change, helping organizations understand how to navigate change and reduce strain on teams while accelerating the change process.