129. On the Ground Impact Series: How Do You Change Systems Without the Pain? Artwork

The Stepping In It Podcast with Renee Schulte & Jason Haglund

The Stepping In It Podcast is a weekly discussion of the latest news and trends in behavioral health policy development and practice. Each episode features interviews with experts from across the field, including policymakers, clinicians, researchers, and advocates. The podcast provides listeners with practical tips and resources for improving the quality and access to behavioral health care.

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The Stepping In It Podcast with Renee Schulte & Jason Haglund

129. On the Ground Impact Series: How Do You Change Systems Without the Pain?

February 17, 2026 • Renee Schulte

0:00 | 34:11

Change is rarely comfortable—especially in complex systems like healthcare, policy, and large organizations—but that doesn’t mean it isn’t necessary. In this episode of the On the Ground Impact Series, we dig into the reality of system change: why it often feels exhausting, where resistance really comes from, and how leaders can move change forward without losing momentum or people along the way. From change fatigue and tribal knowledge to data challenges and decision overload, this conversation explores what actually gets in the way of sustainable transformation—and how to keep going even when the process feels hard.

In this episode, you will be able to:

Why meaningful system change is almost always painful—and why that doesn’t mean it’s failing
How change fatigue impacts teams, productivity, and morale
The hidden role of tribal knowledge in slowing or blocking transformation
What the data says about why so many transformation efforts fail
Practical insights on sustaining focus, reducing overwhelm, and moving change forward intentionally

The key moments in this episode are:

00:00:00 – Welcome & episode introduction

00:02:05 – Why all meaningful change comes with discomfort

00:04:10 – Change fatigue and its impact on teams

00:06:45 – Data management challenges and system complexity

00:09:20 – Tribal knowledge and resistance to documentation

00:12:05 – Productivity loss during system transitions

00:14:30 – The statistic: why 70% of transformation efforts fail

00:16:10 – Losing focus and momentum during long-term change

00:18:40 – Sustainability, overwhelm, and decision fatigue

00:21:15 – When leaders don’t know what to do next

00:23:30 – Closing reflections: continuing change even when it’s hard