For change to succeed, the people most affected—the Targets—need to be informed, involved, and supported from the start. From the LaMarsh Managed Change™ perspective, that means communicating early, giving people a voice, helping them see themselves in the Future State, and providing realistic training and reinforcement. When organizations deliver change with people instead of to them, adoption accelerates and results last.

Strong sponsorship is the cornerstone of successful change. Yet, organizations often overlook the importance of recognizing leaders who do it well. When great sponsorship goes unacknowledged, momentum fades—and so does motivation.

Neuroscience reveals that resistance to change isn’t stubbornness—it’s biology. Four key brain regions—the amygdala, entorhinal cortex, basal ganglia, and habenula—all react to change as a potential threat by triggering fear, disorientation, habit disruption, and fear of failure. When leaders understand these brain responses, they can design change strategies that calm threat responses, rebuild confidence, and support lasting adaptation.

Strong sponsorship is the cornerstone of successful change. Yet, organizations often overlook the importance of recognizing leaders who do it well. When great sponsorship goes unacknowledged, momentum fades—and so does motivation.