Why Most Organizations Fail at Change—and How the Three Pillar Model Fixes It

Change is the only constant, yet most organizations struggle to manage it effectively. Traditional change management follows a linear model—unfreeze, change, refreeze—that assumes change happens in discrete phases. But in today's hyper-complex environment, change is continuous, overlapping, and unpredictable.

The Three Pillar Model offers a paradigm shift. It rejects the old model and proposes a framework built on Sustainable Purpose, the Travelling Organization mindset, and Connectivity to navigate perpetual change.

Sustainable Purpose provides the emotional stability needed to endure constant flux. It answers the fundamental question: Why do we exist? This clarity helps employees maintain focus and motivation even as strategies and processes evolve rapidly.

The Travelling Organization embraces change as a journey, not a destination. Organizations adopting this mindset act like explorers, continuously learning, experimenting, and adapting. This entrepreneurial spirit, even within large enterprises, enables rapid response to shifting markets and customer needs.

Connectivity is the glue that holds everything together. Without strong connections between people, processes, and strategies, organizations risk silos, inefficiency, and conflict. Connectivity fosters trust, transparency, and collaboration, essential ingredients for managing complexity.

Data supports these insights. Nearly 25% of IT projects fail outright, and half require significant rework, often due to poor people connectivity. This highlights the critical role of human relationships alongside technical planning.

To succeed, leaders must cultivate emotional intelligence, shared governance, and continuous learning cultures. These human factors empower teams to self-organize, innovate, and sustain momentum.

In conclusion, the Three Pillar Model offers a robust alternative to outdated change frameworks. By anchoring in purpose, embracing the journey of change, and nurturing connectivity, organizations can transform failure into opportunity and chaos into creativity.

Are you ready to rethink change and lead your organization into a resilient future?

Sources: Magnolia Dolphin insights 2 , Amazon book summary 1 , LinkedIn discussion 4