211: The 5 Hidden Forces That Quietly Kill Transformation Efforts | Greg Satell

In this actionable episode of The Learn-It-All Podcast, Damon Lembi sits down with Greg Satell, renowned transformation expert and bestselling author of Cascades: How to Create a Movement that Drives Transformational Change. Together, they unpack why organizational change efforts so often fail, the psychology of resistance, and how bold leaders can actually get people aligned without creating change fatigue or endless internal battles. Greg doesn’t just talk theory—he delivers proven frameworks for diagnosing resistance, earning “keystone wins,” and spreading transformation by movement, not mandate. Whether you're wrestling with skeptics or plotting your next big initiative, this episode is stacked with practical wisdom for anyone facing change at work or beyond. 

In this episode, you’ll learn: 

• The five types of resistance to change (and why only four are rational) 
• Why shared values, not just purpose, are the true foundation for successful transformation 
• How to spot “change fatigue” and set limits on how much change your organization can handle 
• The secret to keystone wins: start small, iterate with enthusiasts, and scale from early successes 
• How movements, not mandates, create truly lasting organizational change 
• Strategies for handling skeptics and building momentum through peer networks instead of persuasion 

Timestamps: 

00:00 – Change fatigue, why most transformations burn out, and the mandate vs. movement dilemma 

01:24 – The real reason change fails: resistance (what the data shows) 

02:59 – The five categories of resistance: trust, fatigue, switching costs, incentives, and identity 

09:33 – When (and when not) to engage with skeptics or “identity-based” resistors 

13:41 – The power of shared values (and how LGBTQ+ rights found common ground) 

15:45 – Discovering shared purpose and values—what leaders must do first 

18:25 – Why values come with real costs (IBM’s culture turnaround story) 

23:50 – The myth of “constant change”: why too many initiatives sink organizations 

25:17 – Tipping points: you only need 10–20% early adopters to drive major change 

28:30 – Why peer networks (not memos) spread new behaviors 

30:20 – Don’t try to “boil the ocean”: the keystone change playbook for rapid scaling 

35:37 – Why you always start with enthusiasts (and iterate in small groups) 

38:21 – What the Agile movement got wrong about signaling and shared values 

39:48 – Why learning from failure is the backbone of every movement 

47:24 – How 5 kids in a Belgrade café sparked 50+ revolutions 

48:01 – What Greg Satell has unlearned after two decades of studying change 

54:37 – The power of belief: why “going where the energy is” matters most 

 

About Greg Satell 

Greg Satell is an internationally recognized expert on transformation, organizational change, and innovation. He is the author of Cascades: How to Create a Movement that Drives Transformational Change and a frequent keynote speaker on leadership in times of disruption. Greg has helped Fortune 500s, global nonprofits, and city governments rethink how they mobilize people and win lasting buy-in for bold ideas. He is known for blending research-backed frameworks with compelling real-world stories, from corporate turnarounds to civic revolutions.  

Resources & Mentions 

• Greg’s website: GregSatell.com 
• Connect with Greg on