#138: The Readiness Gap: What the Research Says About Why Good Ideas Still Fail Artwork

Coaching the Whole Educator

This podcast helps instructional coaches, teacher leaders, and school leaders improve their educators’ effectiveness and resilience, especially the ones who need it most by focusing on the mindsets and motivations that are at the source of unproductive behaviors. Each week, we’ll cover quick tips, strategies and coaching mindsets so that you can be on top of your coaching game.

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Coaching the Whole Educator

#138: The Readiness Gap: What the Research Says About Why Good Ideas Still Fail

May 25, 2025 • Becca Silver • Season 3 • Episode 138

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Change doesn’t fail because people are stubborn. It fails because leaders bet on urgency instead of readiness.

Organizational change only sticks when people believe it’s worth it and believe they can pull it off.

That’s the core of Weiner’s theory on change commitment (Value Mindset) and change efficacy (Success Mindset)—and without both, even a great idea will crash and burn.

In this episode, I break down how to assess readiness and share a real story of what happens when you fix the belief gap before pushing forward.

If you're throwing strategies at resistance and hoping something sticks—stop. Then head to The Whole Educator for mindset-driven tools that don’t waste your time (or theirs).

The Research: A theory of organizational readiness for change