Most change efforts fail not because of poor strategy, but because of human resistance.
January 15, 2026
FMG Leading Managing Principal Addam Marcotte recently partnered with Ancore Health CEO Eric Passon to explore the importance of assessing change readiness before launching any new company initiative … and how models like the Kübler-Ross Change Curve can help executive leaders better understand what your physicians and employees are likely experiencing.
The article explains that many healthcare organizations resist healthy tension, especially when physicians are involved. But with the right leadership in place, teams can move more rapidly through what is known as “the change curve.” Some organizations move more slowly because of cultural barriers, which must be recognized before launching a disruptive initiative. In today’s market, few organizations can afford to skip this step.
The article goes on to highlight a recent study from Prosci, explaining that organizations with excellent change management programs in place had an 88% success rate in meeting project objectives, compared to just 13% for those rated as poor. The authors explain that understanding your organization’s readiness enables leaders to bend the curve and move faster, ideally before a crisis hits.
The article also shares the Kübler-Ross Change Curve model, which was originally developed to describe the emotional stages of grief, but is remarkably effective at mapping how teams react to organizational change:
The authors explain that the stages of the model aren’t signs of dysfunction; they’re a natural part of the process. The Kübler-Ross curve captures the emotional journey. But it’s not a roadmap, it’s a mirror. Leaders must navigate both the psychology and the structure of change in order to either shorten the dip or, ideally, invert it.
To read the full article, click here.
About FMG Leading
FMG Leading is a value creation and human capital advisory firm that partners with leaders and investors on a mission to make the healthcare system work, better. Its trusted advisors bring together management and key stakeholders to engage with critical people-centric levers that drive change and impact, helping address what’s broken and imagining different, better ways of enabling organizations to achieve their full potential.
About Ancore Health
Ancore Health partners with health systems and corporate entities to develop physician alignment strategies and improve performance of medical groups. Always with an eye toward financial sustainability, Ancore’s unique approach focuses on developing a common thread between strategy, practice management fundamentals, and measurement of performance. Ancore Health’s clients include health systems and corporate entities who employ or contract with physicians.
