Why do so many worthwhile change efforts struggle to gain traction?

This week in the Knowledge Management Global Network (KMGN) course "From Strategy to Impact", we had the pleasure of hosting Mary Lynn Manns, who spoke about the ideas behind "More Fearless Change", the book she co-authored with Linda Rising.

What makes this work so valuable is that it is not only relevant to Knowledge Management. It speaks to anyone trying to move an idea forward, improve adoption, or create change inside a real organization.

A few takeaways stood out:
First, change spreads through patterns, not announcements.
Rarely through one grand launch. More often through practical moves: start small, create visible wins, and allow momentum to build.

Second, work with human nature, not against it.
Resistance is often less about opposition and more about uncertainty, overload, or fear of loss. Successful change journeys reduce friction and make the next step easier.

Third, you do not need everyone at the beginning.
Many successful initiatives start with a few early supporters who create proof others can trust.

This is true whether you are leading a KM initiative, digital adoption, AI implementation, cultural transformation, or operational improvement.

For those who would like to learn more, here is my summary of More Fearless Change:
📘 https://lnkd.in/dBsXj9QV
Because progress is rarely created by the loudest push.
It is created by the smartest sequence of small moves ✨