Rediscovering Change Leadership Through Yoga Philosophy

Over the past 20 years, I’ve had the privilege of working with numerous organizations navigating large-scale change and transformation. From trillion-dollar financial services firms to small government agencies, one thing has become abundantly clear:

Organizational change doesn’t happen because of an innovative strategy or a well-designed plan. Change happens when people feel seen, heard, and cared for. Change happens when there’s trust.

Stephen M.R. Covey said it best when he said, “Change happens at the speed of trust.” He understood that without trust, even the best strategies will stall, because people need to feel safe (seen, heard, cared for) and believe in those leading the change before they follow (trust).

While I’d love to say that change management training is the antidote to this dilemma, it’s not (although it does help). Leadership development can help, too, but today most prioritize communication, strategic thinking, and emotional intelligence. While these skills are valuable, something is still missing.

Leaders who care and build trust lead from within, and being able to lead from within is an inside-out practice. One that requires self-reflection, personal responsibility, and ethics. This is where yoga philosophy comes in.

Before you stop reading, I’m not talking about the yoga of postures. I’m talking about the ethical restraints (Yamas) and self-disciplines (Niyamas) outlined in Patanjali’s Eightfold Path, which presents yoga not as a physical fitness regime, but as a spiritual pathway aimed at helping people navigate social interactions, overcome egoic suffering, and create well-being in themselves and others.

Like Stoic philosophy, which has helped millions of people transform how they think, act, and behave, yoga philosophy offers a mindful approach for modern leaders who want to understand how they can have a positive impact on the world and those around them.

Coming full circle: trust is a key factor in organizational change success, and many leaders lack the knowledge and tools they need to build trust, stay in balance, and lead through continuous change and uncertainty. I believe yoga philosophy holds answers to what’s been missing, and I am committed to elevating and sharing these principles through my writing, teaching, and training programs in the days ahead.

Please let me know if this message resonates with you. I’d love to hear about your experiences with change at work and what else you think could help leaders and teams get better at organizational change.

Sincerely,

Jessica Crow
Founder, Apogy