The Three Voices Sabotaging Change
The Change Signal with Otto Scharmer
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Could it be that the biggest barrier to change isn't resistance from others, but three voices in your own head? And what if taking action too quickly is actually making everything worse?
Otto Scharmer, creator of Theory U and MIT lecturer, reveals why most transformation efforts fail at the deepest level. The problem isn't strategy or resources—it's that we're fighting internal enemies we don't even recognize.
Scharmer identifies three forces that sabotage every change leader: the voice of judgment (killing creativity), the voice of cynicism (creating emotional disconnect), and the voice of fear (keeping us trapped in old patterns). Recognizing these voices is literally fifty percent of the battle.
But here's the real kicker: he argues that our obsession with action is backfiring. When we jump from challenge to immediate response, we're just reacting—and reactive responses are the number one problem in organizations today.
The alternative? Learning to "let go and let come"—creating space for genuinely new solutions to emerge rather than recycling the same old approaches.
This isn't fluffy theory. Scharmer shares practical exercises (including one "brutal" MIT practice) and explains why the interior condition of the change leader determines whether interventions actually work.
If you're tired of change initiatives that create more problems than they solve, this conversation will shift how you think about transformation forever.
About Otto
Otto Scharmer is a Senior Lecturer at MIT and the founding chair of the Presencing Institute. He is the author of Theory U, Leading from the Emerging Future, and his newest book Presencing: 7 Practices for Transforming Self, Society and Business. Otto is a global authority on deep systems change, and his work on presence-based leadership has shaped change efforts in organizations, governments, and social systems around the world.
ottoscharmer.com
Presencing Institute: presencing.org
Otto’s New book: Presencing: 7 Practices for Transforming Self, Society and Business
