How do you communicate change you didn’t create?
There’s a moment in leadership that many people aren’t prepared for. It’s the moment when you’re asked to communicate a decision you didn’t make and may not even agree with. You’re expected to stand in front of your team with confidence and clarity, while internally you’re still processing what the change means. This is the reality of middle leadership, and it’s one of the most difficult spaces to navigate.
In this episode of Breaking the Chain, Nathaniel Chapman and Terentia Browne unpack what it really means to lead from the middle. They explore the tension of being “squeezed” between senior leadership and your team, where one side expects alignment and the other demands clarity. It’s a position that requires you to stabilise others, even when you don’t feel entirely stable yourself.
The challenge is not just about communication; it’s about internal conflict. Leaders often find themselves asking difficult questions: How do I communicate something I don’t agree with? How do I show confidence when I feel unsure? How do I get buy-in when I wasn’t part of the decision? These questions are not a sign of weak leadership, but rather a reflection of the complexity that comes with operating in the middle of an organisation.
One of the biggest risks in these moments is what the hosts describe as “fractionalized leadership.” This happens when leaders distance themselves from decisions or subtly communicate their disagreement to their teams. While it may feel honest in the moment, it often creates confusion and uncertainty. When alignment is lost at a leadership level, it becomes much harder for teams to move forward with confidence.
At the heart of this conversation is a powerful shift in perspective. You may not control the decision, but you do influence how your team experiences it. Your reaction becomes their reference point, especially in moments of uncertainty. The way you show up, whether grounded or uncertain, has a direct impact on how your team responds to change.
The episode goes deeper into what it takes to lead effectively in these situations, offering practical ways to approach communication, build clarity, and support your team without undermining the broader direction of the organisation. It highlights the importance of being intentional, emotionally aware, and aligned in how you carry change forward.
Communicating change you didn’t create is not just a challenge, it’s a defining leadership moment. It’s an opportunity to build trust, strengthen your presence, and guide your team through uncertainty with confidence.
Listen to the full episode on your favourite platforms:
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At Impel Talent, we partner with forward-thinking organisations to develop confident, capable leaders who drive performance and sustainable growth. Through practical coaching, structured development programmes, and insight-driven learning experiences, we equip individuals and teams to navigate change, strengthen self-leadership, and build cultures rooted in clarity and accountability.
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