Leadersheep vs. Leadership: Why 50% of Change Initiatives Fail — and How to Fix It

Half of corporate change initiatives fail. Not because your people resist—but because your leadership model does. In this powerhouse conversation, Bernadette Boas sits down with Dr. Mary Lippitt, founder of Enterprise Management and author of Leader Sheep: Saving the Herd, to expose why “command and control” leadership is killing transformation—and what actually drives sustainable change. After four decades leading transformations across industries, Dr. Lippitt reveals the five critical components that make change stick—and why most leaders get them wrong. You’ll discover:Why announcing the vision and delegating the rest guarantees failure.How to turn resistance into real progress (and why “change” feels bad but “progress” feels empowering).The hidden ingredient missing from every leadership competency framework.The four monthly team questions that build trust, creativity, and commitment. If your organization is stuck in change fatigue, this episode will rewrite how you lead. Chapters / Timestamps: 00:00 – Why 50% of Change Initiatives Fail 02:00 – Meet Dr. Mary Lippitt and the Origin of Leader Sheep 04:30 – Why the “Command and Control” Era Is Over 07:00 – How to Turn Resistance into Progress 09:00 – The 5 Components That Make Change Stick 10:00 – Vision: Crafting Change People Believe In 11:00 – Competencies: Building the Skills for Change 12:00 – Incentives: The Secret to Motivation and Buy-In 14:00 – Resources and Action Planning: Leading with Clarity 18:00 – Why “On-Time and On-Budget” Doesn’t Equal Success 20:00 – The Generational Shift in Leadership Expectations 22:00 – How to Engage Passive or Silent Team Members 25:00 – The Power of Pilots and Peer Advocacy 27:00 – Four Monthly Questions That Build Trust and Innovation 29:00 – Respect as the Foundation of Modern Leadership 31:00 – The One Habit Every Leader Should Start Today Connect with Dr. Mary Lippitt: enterprisemgt.com Whether you’re an HR executive, change leader, or CEO, this episode is your roadmap to turning failed initiatives into thriving transformation. 👉 LISTEN NOW 📘 Get her book: Leader Sheep: Saving the Herd 🔔 Subscribe for more bold, actionable conversations that redefine leadership. 💬 Share this with your team or that colleague who says, “Our people just resist change.” Support the show