Leading Through Change: How to Engage the Yes, No, and Maybe Groups in Your Workplace

Some people resist change. Some embrace it. Others are just waiting for it to fail.

Every leader has been there—introducing a new initiative, only to find that people react in one of three ways:

✅ The Yes Group – Excited and ready to jump in. 😍

❌ The No Group – Resistant and skeptical. 😒

🤔 The Maybe Group – Cautious and unsure. 🫤

In today’s workplace, change isn’t optional—it’s constant. And how you, as a leader, handle these groups determines whether your change succeeds or stalls.

Let’s break this down through a real-world scenario, explore leadership strategies, and ensure your team moves forward—together.

📺 Watch: Yes, No, Maybe – How Leaders Handle Workplace Change!

The Workplace Scenario: A New Division is Introduced

Imagine you’re leading a team, and leadership announces a new division focused on customer engagement. The goal is to move beyond traditional service delivery and incorporate outside-the-box activities that build relationships and connection.

As soon as you announce it, you notice three reactions:

✅ The Yes Group: "This is exciting! We’ve needed a fresh approach!"

❌ The No Group: "This is unnecessary. Why change what’s been working?"

🤔 The Maybe Group: "I see both sides, but I have questions."

Your response as a leader makes all the difference.

The Yes Group: Your Early Adopters

This group is excited and ready to embrace change. They thrive on innovation and see this as a great opportunity.

🎯 Leadership Strategy:

✅ Challenge them – They don’t just want praise; they want responsibility.

✅ Give them ownership – Let them help shape the new division.

✅ Recognize their contributions – Keep their momentum strong.

💡 Pitfall to Avoid:

🚫 Neglecting them. Many leaders focus too much on resisters and forget their strongest allies. If you don’t keep your Yes employees engaged, they’ll burn out, check out, or move on.

The Maybe Group: The Fence-Sitters

This group is on the fence, not against change—but not sold on it either.

🎯 Leadership Strategy:

✅ Give them clarity – Be transparent about what’s changing and why.

✅ Provide small wins – Early successes will build their confidence.

✅ Pair them with Yes employees – Seeing the benefits firsthand can convert them.

💡 Pitfall to Avoid:

🚫 Leaving them in uncertainty. The Maybe group is the tipping point—get them on board, and the No group loses power. Ignore them, and they may slip into resistance.

The No Group: The Resisters

This group is firmly against the change. They often resist because they:🔹 Feel comfortable with the status quo.🔹 Don’t trust the process.🔹 Fear extra work, loss of control, or failure.

🎯 Leadership Strategy:

✅ Acknowledge their concerns – Don’t dismiss them outright.

✅ Provide logic and reassurance – Show data, success stories, and purpose.

✅ Set boundaries – Engage, but don’t spend all your energy trying to convert them.

💡 Pitfall to Avoid:

🚫 Spending too much time on the Nos. Resisters often recruit others, especially Maybes. The more attention you give them, the more power they hold.

The Leadership Mistake That Will Kill Your Change Effort

Many leaders make the same mistake: Focusing too much on the No group.

Instead of trying to convince every resister, leaders should:

✅ Empower the Yes employees to drive momentum.

✅ Guide the Maybes with encouragement and transparency.

✅ Keep moving forward, whether the Nos are on board or not.

As I say in my YouTube video on this topic:

👉 “You can’t force people to change. They have to choose to buy in.” 👈

So the question is: Where is your energy going?

Final Thoughts: What Kind of Leader Are You?

The next time your organization rolls out a new initiative, policy, or shift in direction—pause and ask yourself:

🔹 Am I investing too much in the resisters?

🔹 Am I giving my Yes employees the attention they deserve?

🔹 Am I guiding my Maybes toward confidence and clarity?

🚀 Want to sharpen your leadership skills? 

This is exactly what we tackle in my Empathy and Influence in the Workplace training.

📩 Let’s connect—and ensure your team moves forward together.

🎬 Watch the Full Breakdown in My Latest YouTube Video!

Which group do you relate to the most? 

Do you see more Yeses, Maybes, or Nos in your workplace?

Drop a comment on the video and let me know!

📺 Watch Here ➝ https://youtu.be/JcXMzIDLflw?si=yiBCQdH65JvhejGq

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Disclaimer

The views expressed in this blog are solely those of the author and do not represent any other individual, organization, or company. This content is intended for general knowledge and to highlight tools, techniques, and ideas that inspire positive change. Readers are encouraged to explore the topics further and form their own conclusions.