398: Become a Change Leader, Not Just a Change Manager with Yvonne Ruke Akpoveta
The Modern Manager
Empathy in Practice for Managers
Yvonne explains cognitive empathy and shares a hiring/performance story to illustrate perspective-taking.
Change is constant. But too often, leaders treat change as a project instead of a core leadership skill.
That’s when teams disengage, resistance grows, and initiatives stall. The problem isn’t the change itself. It’s how it’s led.
Fortunately, this week’s guest shares a powerful new approach to help leaders guide their teams through uncertainty, build trust, and turn resistance into meaningful progress.
Yvonne is a Change Management Strategist & Advisor, Founder of The Change Leadership, Author, and a Change Leadership Advocate with over 20 years of experience helping professionals and organizations lead and navigate change in today's disruptive environment.
In this conversation, we explore the difference between change leadership and change management, how empathy and adaptability drive adoption, and why resistance is one of the most valuable signals leaders can receive.
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Conversation Topics
- (00:00) Introduction
- (01:34) Change leadership vs. change management
- (04:24) Core change leadership skills every manager needs
- (06:50) Adaptive leadership and the head, heart, and hand model
- (09:42) Empathy and understanding how others hear change
- (11:36) Leading AI adoption and understanding impact first
- (14:50) The change curve and why people react differently
- (18:55) Involving stakeholders early to avoid failure
- (21:48) Transparency, trust, and early communication
- (24:26) Why resistance to change is valuable feedback
- (27:29) Designing better communication through real questions
- (29:26) The role of trust in strong leadership relationships
- (31:22) [Extended Episode] Avoiding performative change
- (36:45) [Extended episode] Driving change adoption
- (39:19) [Extended Episode] When feedback creates insight
📚 Additional Resources:
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Keep Up with Yvonne Akpoveta
- Connect with Yvonne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvonneakpoveta/
- Access free resources here: https://oliveblue.com/resources
- Visit her website: https://thechangeleadership.com/
Guest Bonus: Discount on your virtual or in-person ticket to Change Leadership Conference 2026
At this one-day event, you’ll gain practical strategies, build peer connections, and elevate your credibility as a change leader in a world of constant disruption.
Members get $150 off In-person tickets and $45 off Virtual tickets. Promo codes expire April 30th.
The Change Leadership Conference is on May 27, 2026.
Get your ticket here: https://thechangeleadership.com/change-leadership-conference-2026#tickets
To get this bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community.
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