4 Books When Change Demands Your Attention
Something’s shifted. Maybe it crept up quietly, maybe it hit all at once.
The decisions that once felt natural, the way you lead, the practices you trust— they just don't land the same way anymore.
If that’s you right now - you’re not doing it wrong. You're simply navigating change, and change demands new approaches.
Learning is one of the most powerful tools to turn disorientation into direction. While a book, podcast or well-timed conversation won’t have all the answers, it can offer language for what you’re feeling, a lens that shifts your perspective, or simply the relief of knowing “It’s not just me”.
Start with perspective. Stay with practice.
This is the first in a series of resources on change, mindset, and transformation. We're starting with the books that have helped us think differently, act intentionally, and lead more clearly when everything feels uncertain.
1. Atomic Habits by James Clear
This book breaks transformation into small, purposeful shifts— the little things we do consistently that create meaningful impact over time.
What Stuck:
Sustained change starts with the small steps you take everyday. As strategists, we’ve seen this play out in organizations. Large, ambitious change efforts often fail because teams overlook the power of small, consistent actions.
Clear, J. (2018). Atomic Habits. James Clear. https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits
2. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck
Dweck's research shows it's not just what you do—it's how you think about your capacity to change that shapes it. Your mindset becomes an invisible force behind every outcome.
What Stuck:
As leaders, this book helped us recognize when organizational culture and long-established thinking were getting in the way of the shifts we wanted to create. Once you start noticing mindset, it reorients your approach.
Dweck, C. S. (2016). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. Penguin Random House Canada. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/44330/mindset-by-carol-s-dweck-phd/9780345472328
3. The Next Conversation: Argue Less, Talk More by Jefferson Fisher
Change always involves communication—sharing the vision, influencing your team to come on the journey, and working together to actually get there. This book is a simple, clear guide to having better conversations, especially when tensions run high.
What Stuck:
When every exchange becomes about learning—instead of winning or persuading—a different kind of space opens up. You listen more fully. You speak with more clarity. And over time, even the hard ones feel more grounded.
Fisher, J. (2025). The Next Conversation: Argue Less, Talk More. Jefferson Fisher. https://www.jeffersonfisher.com/book
4. Change: How to Turn Uncertainty Into Opportunity
This is a practical guide for any leader navigating a team through change. This book breaks change into a four-step model grounded in behavioral science and real-world examples. It’s approachable, actionable, and gives your whole team a shared language.
What Stuck:
Leading through change isn’t just about vision—it’s about process. Having a framework helps everyone on the team know where they are and what comes next.
Bateman, C., Pleshette, M., Cindrich, A., Phillips, C. (2023). Change: How to Turn Uncertainty Into Opportunity. Franklin Covey. https://www.franklincovey.com/books/change-how-to-turn-uncertainty-into-opportunity/
From Insight to Action
Each of these books offers something different—but together, they remind us that meaningful change doesn’t come from one big move. It comes from small, consistent steps. From noticing your mindset. From having intentional conversations. From building shared understanding of where you’re going— and how you’ll get there together.
When you turn those ideas into practice, you’re not just reacting to change—you’re ready for it.