In this BONUS episode, we explore the challenges leaders face during transformations with leadership coach Andra Stefanescu. Drawing from her extensive research and coaching experience, Andra shares powerful insights on fostering psychological safety, understanding brain-based responses to change, and developing the emotional intelligence needed to lead effectively. She reveals practical frameworks and techniques that help leaders navigate resistance and build meaningful connections with their teams.
The Leadership Challenge of Transformation
“People are giving resistance… and in general, leaders are feeling overwhelmed in times of changes, whatever those changes are.”
Resistance and overwhelm are the two biggest challenges leaders face during transformations. Through her research and coaching work across different industries, Andra has found that leaders often feel powerless when their teams resist change. This resistance stems from basic psychological needs not being met. Leaders can overcome these challenges by understanding the different psychological needs of their team members and adapting their communication accordingly. By using specific frameworks, leaders can address resistance more effectively and rediscover their passion for leadership.
Understanding the Brain’s Response to Change
“When something is changed, whatever that is… what your brain perceives is like a threat because the one question that we put all day long in our brains is: is this safe for me?”
The brain naturally resists change because it prefers routine and automation. When facing transformation, people instinctively question whether the change is safe, which triggers resistance. This creates a challenging dynamic where leaders experiencing their own fear and resistance become less able to empathize with their team’s concerns. Andra emphasizes the importance of leaders “putting their own mask on first” by acknowledging their own feelings and ensuring they’re in the right state of mind before attempting to lead others through change.
The Middle Manager’s Dilemma
“Middle managers are in the middle, they have high pressure from above, high pressure from down… And this is where they arrive in this powerless situation, where they ask themselves, how can I make this work?” Continue reading BONUS: Why Your Teams Really Resist Change, The Neuroscience of Leadership That Nobody Taught You With Andra Stefanescu
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Pooja is an Agile Coach at Visma Solutions and Agile Community Lead for Visma Group. With a passion for “limitless learning” and “selfless teaching,” she brings empathy and a people-centric approach to her work and everyday life. Based in Helsinki for 9 years, she finds balance through yoga, meditation, and family life.
As Scrum Master we work with change continuously! Do you have your own change framework that provides the guidance, and queues you need when working with change? 
Jaques is a seasoned Agile coach and Scrum Master with extensive experience in leading and transforming teams in the game development industry. His expertise lies in fostering team collaboration, resolving conflicts, and facilitating effective retrospectives. Jaques is passionate about continuous learning and empowering teams to achieve their full potential.