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Ep. 139, The Real Reason Workplace Change Fails with Dr. Jacqueline Kerr

Season #3

What if people are not resisting change because they are stubborn… but because their brains literally cannot see the change as relevant yet?

Episode Summary

In this episode of the Joyosity™ Podcast, Jenn Whitmer talks with Jacqueline Kerr about how workplace change actually happens—inside teams, organizations, and systems.

They explore why people often do not respond to new ideas, not because change is bad or hard, but because those ideas do not match their current priorities, pressures, incentives, or mental filters. Jacqueline shares how leaders can create the enabling conditions for change by starting small, reducing friction, building trust, and demonstrating results instead of forcing buy-in.

This episode is especially helpful for leaders, managers, culture builders, HR professionals, and change agents who want to improve team habits, workplace culture, employee engagement, burnout prevention, leadership communication, and organizational change adoption.

If you have ever wondered, "Why won’t they just do the obvious, better thing?", this conversation will help you understand resistance to change, behavior change at work, and how to build momentum without unnecessary frustration.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • 01:57 Enabling Conditions for Change
  • 10:40 How to Win Over Resistant Leaders
  • 21:50 Stealth Interventions That Work
  • 24:00 Why Reminders Beat Information
  • 28:21 Readiness for Change Is Contextual

Key takeaway:

Real change happens when leaders make new behaviors easier, safer, and more relevant to people’s real priorities instead of just asking them to buy in.

Why You Should Listen

  • Learn why people resist change less out of stubbornness and more because of competing priorities, pressure, and mental filters.
  • Hear a practical framework for creating the conditions that make change easier to adopt and sustain.
  • Get ideas for leading culture change without forcing buy-in or creating unnecessary friction.
  • Understand how small experiments and early wins can build real momentum across a team.
  • Pick up better ways to bring skeptical or resistant leaders along without dismissing the past.
  • Discover how reminders, environment design, and trust often matter more than more information.
  • Walk away with useful insight for improving team habits, reducing burnout, and leading change more effectively. 

 

About Dr. Jacqueline Kerr
Dr. Kerr is a behavior change expert, keynote speaker, grant-writing strategist, and former public health professor who helps leaders create meaningful change without burning out in the process. A former UC San Diego professor and internationally recognized researcher, she has secured more than $56 million in grant funding, published more than 220 scholarly works, and was named among the world’s most influential scientific minds.

Today, through her work as CEO of The Grant Doctor and Head of Behavior Science at The Huuman Group, Jacqueline combines science, strategy, and real-world leadership experience to help organizations improve burnout prevention, behavior change, and long-term impact. Her work spans academia, healthcare, corporate leadership, and community advocacy, all driven by a clear mission: empowering leaders to keep changing the world.
drjacquelinekerr.com/leading-real-change.com/ 

 

Dr. Kerr’s Social:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dr-jacqueline-kerr-a62581173/  

 

About the Host: Jenn Whitmer

Jenn is an international keynote speaker, leadership consultant, and the founder of Joyosity™, helping leaders create positive, profitable cultures through connection, curiosity, and joy. With a background in communication, conflict resolution, and team dynamics, Jenn helps leaders and organizations navigate complex people challenges, reduce burnout, and build flourishing workplaces.

Her insights have resonated with audiences worldwide, blending real-world leadership expertise, engaging storytelling, and a dash of humor to make the hard stuff easier. Whether on stage, in workshops, or with coaching clients, Jenn equips leaders with the tools they need to solve conflict, cultivate communication, and lead with purpose.

Her book Joyosity and the Joyosity Works Playbooks offer leaders a fresh approach to joy at work that builds real results.

jennwhitmer.com

 

Jenn's Socials:

Instagraminstagram.com/jenn_whitmer

Linkedinlinkedin.com/in/jennwhitmer

 

Podcast edited by Katey Perkins, Midsouth Story Co

 

Resources & Links:

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