Wrapping Up the EOH Seminar Series: From 😱 to 🎯: Mastering the Stages of Change

Last week, we wrapped up the final session in EOH’s seminar series with Steve McClatchy, and wow—what a journey it’s been! This time, the focus was all about navigating change, aligning systems, and staying focused when things feel chaotic. If you’ve ever struggled with keeping your team (or yourself) steady during big transitions, this session was full of insights.

Let’s Talk About Change

Steve kicked things off by diving into the emotional rollercoaster that comes with change. He introduced the Transition Process—a breakdown of the stages we all go through when facing change. It was like seeing a roadmap for all the emotions and reactions that come with navigating something new.

1. Denial: “Why is this happening?” 🤔

   Denial is the gut reaction most of us have when a big change first lands on our plate. It’s that initial disbelief or resistance to accepting what’s coming. For example, imagine your company announces a shift to a new system that will completely change the way you do your job. Your first thought might be, “This can’t be serious—everything works fine the way it is.” At this stage, people may ignore the change entirely or try to convince themselves it’s not going to stick.

   
   

2. Resistance: “What does this look like? When does it hit hardest?” 😤

   Once reality sets in, resistance often follows. This is when frustration, anxiety, or fear can bubble up. Using the same example, this might look like feeling overwhelmed by the learning curve of the new system or worrying about how it will impact your workload. Resistance is where people start to think about what they’re losing—comfort, familiarity, or even control. At its peak, this stage can create friction between team members or lead to lowered morale if it’s not handled well.

   
   

3. Exploration: “What does this mean for me personally?” 🤔

   Exploration is where the shift begins. Instead of focusing on what’s being lost, people start to look at what’s possible. For instance, in the new system scenario, you might start asking, “How can this actually make my job easier?” or “What opportunities could this open up for me?” At this stage, people begin to experiment, ask questions, and test the waters—often with a mix of curiosity and caution. It’s the moment when the mindset shifts from resisting to adapting.

   
   

4. Commitment: “How will we know we’ve made it?” 🎯

   Commitment is the final stage, where people fully embrace the change and integrate it into their routine. They’ve found a way to make it work and are focused on achieving success with the new system, approach, or process. At this point, individuals and teams are aligned, and the change feels less like an obstacle and more like an opportunity. For example, after mastering the new system, you might find that it saves time, streamlines processes, or even improves collaboration within the team..

   
   

Why It Resonated with Us 💡

Hearing this breakdown was such a lightbulb moment for our team. It helped us see that resistance to change isn’t just a “bad attitude”—it’s a normal and natural reaction that everyone experiences to some degree. More importantly, it gave us tools to recognize where we—and our colleagues—might be in the process, so we can better support one another through it.

Change isn’t just about strategy—it’s about people, their emotions, and how they process what’s happening. By understanding these stages, we’re better equipped to navigate the challenges of change and guide our teams toward success.

Key Lessons We’re Taking Away

1. Step Out of Your Comfort Zone

   Steve hit us with a hard truth: our habits and routines can trap us in our comfort zones.

   

   Sure, it’s cozy there, but leaders can’t grow—or lead effectively—without pushing those boundaries.

   
   

2. Systems Matter (A Lot)

   One of the standout quotes from the session came from Edward Deming: “Put good people in a bad system, and the system will win every time”.

   

   It was a stark reminder that even the best teams can’t thrive in broken or outdated systems.

   
   

3. Why Change Fails

   

   Here’s the kicker: most change initiatives fail not because of poor planning but because leaders underestimate how hard change hits emotionally. Steve’s advice? Over-communicate, set clear goals, and support your team through the messy middle.

   
   

Interactive and Hands-On

This wasn’t your typical “sit and listen” seminar. Steve had us working in groups, tackling real-world scenarios, and applying what we were learning on the spot

One of the best moments was brainstorming ways to move through the stages of transition as a team—it really drove home how powerful collaboration can be when facing challenges.

Tools to Take with Us

Before wrapping up, Steve gave us some questions to keep in mind during transitions:

• Why is this happening?

• What does this look like, and when does it hit hardest?

• What does this mean for me or my team?

• How will we know when we’ve succeeded?

These simple but powerful questions are already helping us reframe how we approach change at work.

Looking Back: A Quick Recap of the Series

This seminar was the perfect conclusion to an incredible three-part series. In the first session, we tackled time management and learned how procrastination can sometimes work in our favor—read more about it here. The second session shifted focus to building stronger relationships, with lessons on communication, feedback, and trust—check out the full recap here.

Together, these seminars have given us a solid foundation for becoming better leaders, teammates, and decision-makers.

Thank You, Steve!

A huge thank-you to Steve McClatchy for sharing his expertise with us throughout this series.

Steve is the author of two fantastic books, “Decide: Work Smarter, Reduce Your Stress, and Lead by Example” and “Leading Relationships”. Both are packed with insights on leadership, productivity, and personal growth.

You can find all things Steve at www.Alleer.com, or follow him on LinkedIn and Youtube.com

Whether you’re looking for leadership workshops, keynote speeches, or team-building strategies, Steve is a go-to resource for growth and transformation.

This seminar series has been a game-changer for us, and we’re excited to put everything we’ve learned into action.