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The way we lead through change has transformed dramatically, with strong, charismatic decision-makers who simply announce changes being replaced by leaders who share power and build genuine connections. 

In this week's second session of the Emerging Leaders Program, **Dr. Jen Frahm** and **Lena Ross** of the [Agile Change Leadership Institute](https://aclinstitute.com/our-story/) explored how communication creates change rather than just describes it, and why qualities like vulnerability and curiosity are now essential leadership traits. 

Through examining the three C's - Communication, Collaboration, and Community - along with new leadership approaches, they showed emerging leaders how to navigate uncertainty while bringing their teams along with them.

The way we communicate change has undergone a fundamental shift. Where once leaders simply announced changes from the top down, today's effective change communication is more nuanced and multi-directional. Leaders now need to master three distinct communication approaches:

**Monologic Communication** still has its place in change leadership. This traditional one-way messaging style, similar to a monologue, proves particularly effective when organisations need stability. When a leader clearly articulates what will happen and how it will unfold, it can provide much-needed clarity during uncertain times.

**Dialogic Communication** represents a significant shift in how leaders engage with their teams. This approach invites multiple voices into the change process, creating space for exploration and shared understanding. However, it requires a willingness to share power and create environments where all participants feel they can contribute equally.

**Sensemaking** might be the most crucial yet overlooked aspect of change communication. Leaders must intentionally create spaces where people can process and understand change in their own way. As Dr. Jen Frahm notes, "People's sensemaking of change is as individual as a fingerprint or a DNA strand." Leaders can't make sense of change for others, but they can facilitate the process and provide necessary context.

"Once upon a time change was something we communicated to people. New world communication creates the change." - Dr. Jen Frahm

Communication: Moving Beyond One-Way Messages

Modern change leadership has moved away from the traditional model of appointed change champions scattered across an organisational chart. Instead, successful leaders tap into existing networks and communities within their organisations. This approach recognises that energy and enthusiasm for change often already exist - they just need to be discovered and channelled effectively.

For example, many organisations have informal groups that form around shared interests, like workplace social networks or pet-owner groups. These natural communities often have more influence and energy than formally appointed change champions. By connecting the purpose of change to these existing networks, leaders can create more authentic and effective change movements.

Community: The Power of Natural Networks

Working Out Loud, a concept introduced by Bryce Williams in 2010, has become increasingly relevant in today's workplace. This practice goes beyond simple transparency - it's about deliberately sharing your work process with others in a way that benefits both the sharer and the audience.

When leaders work out loud, they create opportunities for innovation and collaboration while building trust through transparency. This approach involves regularly sharing progress, challenges, and insights, making leadership more accessible and creating opportunities for others to contribute and learn.

Working Out Loud: Transparency in Action

Today's environment requires leadership styles that can handle uncertainty and rapid change. Three approaches have proven particularly effective:

**Adaptive Leadership** recognises the crucial difference between technical and adaptive challenges. Technical challenges can be solved with existing knowledge and processes, while adaptive challenges require shifts in values, beliefs, and behaviours. Understanding this distinction helps leaders choose appropriate strategies for different situations.

**Servant Leadership** turns traditional leadership hierarchy on its head by prioritising service to others over personal status. This approach creates more resilient and engaged teams by focusing on team members' growth and wellbeing. As one participant noted, "As a young leader, servant leadership helps me show vulnerability with my team while still showing leadership and guiding our way."

**Distributed Leadership** spreads leadership responsibilities across the organisation rather than concentrating them at the top. This approach recognises that good ideas and effective leadership can come from anywhere in the organisation, making it particularly effective in fast-changing environments where adaptability is key.

3 Types of Leaders Ideal for Uncertain Times

**Curiosity: The Two Types Every Leader Should Know**

Leaders need to understand and cultivate both types of curiosity:

*   **D-type curiosity** drives us to solve problems and fill knowledge gaps. It's what organisations typically encourage and reward, as it leads directly to problem resolution and innovation.
*   **I-type curiosity** is more exploratory and wonder-driven. While companies often overlook this type, it's crucial for developing the kind of innovative thinking and comfort with ambiguity that modern leadership requires. Interestingly, research shows that leaders with strong I-type curiosity tend to have higher tolerance for ambiguity - a valuable trait in uncertain times.

**Vulnerability: Strength in Openness**

Vulnerability in leadership isn't about oversharing or showing weakness. Instead, it's about being authentic and relatable in ways that build trust and connection. However, leaders must be thoughtful about how they express vulnerability:

*   It must be genuine - teams can quickly spot inauthentic displays of vulnerability
*   Boundaries are crucial - vulnerability should never compromise professional relationships or career stability
*   Consider your team's emotional capacity - avoid overwhelming them with your own concerns
*   Use vulnerability to build bridges, not create burden

**Empathy: The Foundation of Influence**

Empathy has emerged as a crucial leadership quality because it creates a chain reaction: empathy builds genuine connections, these connections create influence, and influence develops true followership. As John Maxwell wisely noted, "He who thinks he leads and has no followers is only taking a walk."

Essential Leadership Qualities

Lena and Jen recommended these subject experts to deepen your understanding of these concepts:

*   Follow Belgian change practitioner **Luc Gallopin** on social architecture and community building through LinkedIn
*   Connect with **Simon Terry**, COO of Change Agents Worldwide, for insights into Working Out Loud
*   Study **Brené Brown’s** research on vulnerability and leadership
*   Watch/listen to Growth Faculty’s On Demand videos featuring **Michael Bungay Stanier, Amy Edmondson, Kim Scott, Brené Brown**, and **Dan Pink**.

Recommended Learning Resources

During the session, participants identified several common barriers to implementing these leadership approaches:

*   Fear and fear of judgment remain significant obstacles
*   Time pressures in fast-paced environments
*   Toxic workplace cultures that discourage vulnerability
*   Concerns about psychological safety

However, Jen and Lena note that while psychological safety is paramount, courage and bravery often emerge precisely when safety isn't guaranteed. The key is to start small, be authentic, and gradually build trust through consistent actions.

Session 2: Emerging Leaders Program - Change Leadership Muscles

Modern Change Leadership: Communication, Collaboration, and Community

Keep informed
Stay Inspired

Session 2: Emerging Leaders Program - Change Leadership Muscles

Modern Change Leadership: Communication, Collaboration, and Community

Keep informedStay Inspired

Keep informed
Stay Inspired