Change (CtbG Y3:E5)

~ Angelo DelliSanti

Change.

Some of us love it. Some of us hate it. Change unleashes creativity in some people and stifles others’ ability to think. It causes some people to think about the possibilities ahead and causes others to cling to the past with everything they’ve got. Despite our varying responses to it, here’s the reality: change is inevitable.

This is true especially today. We live in the most dynamic period of time in history. As I shared in a post last year, human knowledge now doubles every single day. This presents leaders with another truth: We are responsible for embracing change.

Despite the need for and inevitability of change, it’s not usually easy. It’s in those times that I most need to remind myself of this quote by Robin Sharma:

“Change is hard at the beginning, messy in the middle, and glorious at the end.”

Too often, we judge the outcomes of change processes too early. We say things like, “This is too hard. This isn’t working. I don’t like this.” We point to predictable aspects of change, such as statistically expected implementation dips, as evidence to support our feelings. And yet, despite our feelings and our responses, change will continue pressing down on us.

The real challenge, then, is for leaders to manage change well. Those who can identify which changes need to be embraced or resisted, who can appropriately measure how much change their organization can tolerate, who know when to push and when to relax, and who can skillfully lead their teams through the changes they require will be the leaders most likely to bring about impactful, positive, and lasting change to their organization.

Finally, change is a prerequisite of greatness. As a rule, what was great yesterday isn’t what’s great today. New days require new thinking; if we’re going to pursue greatness, we must rise to the challenge of change.

#ChooseToBeGreat

Angelo

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Published by Angelo DelliSanti

“Education? You don’t want to do that with your life. You’ve got other plans.” That’s what Angelo DelliSanti’s high school counselor told him his senior year. And she was right—at first. Angelo had spent three years preparing to become a U.S. Navy officer. But an internship with a math teacher during his senior year changed everything. Helping struggling students master algebra sparked a passion for education that would shape his career. Over the next 15 years, Angelo served as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal, returning to his alma mater to teach World History and later advancing to leadership roles. As a principal, Angelo implemented the Capturing Kids’ Hearts process, leading to remarkable academic gains, increased scholarships, record-breaking graduation rates, and improved school culture. These achievements earned him recognition as the Rowan-Salisbury Schools Principal of the Year in 2018. In 2022, Angelo joined Capturing Kids’ Hearts as a Leadership Solutions Strategist where he is dedicated to working together with school leaders to create remarkable schools. He holds a Bachelor’s in History and Secondary Education from UNC Charlotte, where he was a North Carolina Teaching Fellow. He also completed a Master’s in School Administration and completed all the required coursework for a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from his alma mater, earning the Outstanding Student Philip Morris Educational Fellowship in 2017. Angelo lives in North Carolina with his wife, Kasey, whom he married in 2008. Together, they enjoy escapes to the mountains and beaches. Angelo’s passions include golf, non-fiction books, cooking, and sharing meals filled with laughter and connection around the table.

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