The subject matter of the TEDx YouTube video is leadership, particularly the art of leading through change by comprehending and addressing individuals’ resistance to it. The speaker delves into the intricacies of change fatigue, the psychological underpinnings of resistance stemming from the apprehension of loss, and practical strategies for effective leadership. This content is valuable for leaders in diverse contexts, including businesses, educational institutions, and communities, offering applications such as enhancing team adaptability to new policies, bolstering employee engagement during organisational transformations, or guiding personal growth through life transitions by balancing empathy with a vision for the future.
Type of Material:
Presentation
Recommended Uses:
Class discussion
Assign as homework
Work in groups
Online discussion forum
Technical Requirements:
Mozilla/Firefox, Chrome, Safari
Identify Major Learning Goals:
Students will learn that resistance often comes from a fear of losing important aspects like safety, freedom, or belonging.
Students will understand how effective leaders support individuals during change by empathizing with their fears and highlighting what remains constant.
Students will recognize five key losses—safety, freedom, status, belonging, and fairness—that contribute to resistance against new ideas.
Students will learn practical strategies to address change, including listening to resistance, naming losses, and identifying constants in their lives.
Target Student Population:
The target audience for this video primarily includes college or university students studying leadership, organizational behaviour, psychology, or management.
It’s also suitable for professional development workshops for educators, business leaders, community organizers seeking practical tools for guiding teams through change, and adult learners or self-help enthusiasts focused on personal growth.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:
Basic business terms (e.g., change, motivation, leadership, emotional responses)
Knowledge of psychological theories like loss aversion (from Kahneman and Tversky) and change fatigue
Learners should have critical thinking and reflection skills to analyze the examples (e.g., Linda’s status loss or Sarah’s belonging dilemma)
A general awareness of workplace dynamics or personal experiences with change
Content Quality
Rating:
Strengths:
The video demonstrates several strengths that enhance its quality as a learning resource.
Its engaging storytelling, especially through relatable anecdotes like the aeroplane and job rejection stories, helps illustrate abstract concepts in real-life contexts.
The research-backed framework incorporates credible psychological insights, such as Kahneman and Tversky’s loss aversion and leadership theories from Heifetz and Linsky. This adds academic depth and rigour.
It offers practical applicability by outlining five core losses and actionable leadership strategies, such as acknowledging loss and emphasizing stability. This equips learners with concrete tools for various contexts.
The focus on empathy and identity enriches the emotional impact, prompting learners to consider the human side of change.
The speaker explains that when people are expected to change, they are expected to give up something, so it may not be change they are resisting; they may be resisting loss that is part of the change.
By providing some stability and an anchor for individuals, such as discussing things that will not change, it may be possible for individuals to be more accepting of change.
Together, these elements create a compelling and thought-provoking resource that effectively balances theory, practice, and narrative.
Concerns:
Its complexity and density, combining psychological research and leadership theory with abstract concepts, could overwhelm those without a foundational background.
The conversational style and lengthy delivery (Over 19 minutes) might challenge attention spans, especially when viewed in one sitting without breaks or summaries.
The limited use of visual aids, such as bullet points or diagrams, makes it harder to follow the progression of ideas or extract actionable takeaways.
Specific examples, like those involving workplace scenarios, may not resonate with all viewers, potentially reducing relevance for younger students or those in unrelated fields.
These issues suggest a need for adaptation or additional support to improve accessibility and clarity.
Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool
Rating:
Strengths:
Its narrative-driven approach uses relatable stories—such as small talk on an aero plane and job rejection—to engage learners emotionally, making complex ideas more memorable.
It effectively combines theory and practice by pairing research (e.g., loss aversion from Kahneman and Tversky) with actionable strategies (e.g., acknowledging loss), appealing to both analytical and practical learners.
By focusing on universal experiences like resistance to change, the video ensures relevance to a broad audience, allowing students to apply insights to various contexts. Its emphasis on empathy and leadership encourages critical reflection and interpersonal skill development.
Leadership does not often understand that it’s not only about what’s going to be new and different, but also about what remains to serve as an anchor to provide stability which will minimize the perception of loss.
Overall, these strengths make it a versatile tool for sparking discussion and equipping learners with effective leadership skills.
Concerns:
Its conceptual complexity, with references to theories like loss aversion and abstract ideas such as identity and resistance, may confuse students lacking prior knowledge.
The lengthy, conversational format, without concise summaries or clear breakpoints, could overwhelm those with shorter attention spans.
Limited interactive or visual elements, such as questions or charts, limit opportunities for active learning and may reduce retention, particularly for visual learners.
Context-specific examples related to professional scenarios may not resonate with younger or non-professional students, narrowing the video's appeal.
These factors suggest that, without instructor support or improvements, some students may struggle to engage with the material effectively.
Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty
Rating:
Strengths:
Ted Talks are often very useful and effective for classrooms and training, and provide a basis for discussion. This one is no exception, and it identifies a key area often neglected by leadership.
Transcripts and close caption are available.
The video’s storytelling approach, logical progression of ideas, and engaging tone make it an effective learning tool for new leadership concepts.
The strategies presented are versatile and applicable in various settings.
Concerns:
The video is bit lengthy for attention span and could be split in bit size videos.
Creative Commons:
Search by ISBN?
It looks like you have entered an ISBN number. Would you like to search using what you have
entered as an ISBN number?
Searching for Members?
You entered an email address. Would you like to search for members? Click Yes to continue. If no, materials will be displayed first. You can refine your search with the options on the left of the results page.
Searching for Members?
You entered an email address. Would you like to search for members? Click Yes to continue. If no, materials will be displayed first. You can refine your search with the options on the left of the results page.
