Practical advice for business leaders who are doing the hard work of change.
The secret of successful transformation is not rare nor mysterious; it is knowable, repeatable, and firmly rooted in the science of how human beings change.
Discover the Bestselling Book on Leading Change That Works Discover the Bestselling Book on Leading Change That Works Discover the Bestselling Book on Leading Change That Works Discover the Bestselling Book on Leading Change That Works
The secret of successful transformation is not rare nor mysterious; it is knowable, repeatable, and firmly rooted in the science of how human beings change.
Market volatility. AI disruption. Regulatory uncertainty. Geopolitical risk.
Leaders are under constant pressure to transform. Most organizations will invest heavily—in strategy, structure, and new technology—and still fall short. The reason is rarely the plan itself. It’s the distance between how leaders experience change and how employees actually live it.
But some companies do succeed. In How Change Really Works, Boston Consulting Group experts Julia Dhar, Kristy R. Ellmer, and Philip Jameson show that these successes aren’t random—they’re connected by a common set of principles and practices.
Drawing on decades of behavioral science research, candid interviews with executives and employees, and their own experience leading change across organizations, the authors offer seven science-based principles for making change work. They then put those principles into practice, guiding leaders through the five phases of transformation with the key activities and tactics needed to improve the odds of success at every stage.
75% of change efforts fail.
The difference is rarely intent—it’s whether the right conditions for change have been put in place.
In How Change Really Works, we outline seven science-based principles that help leaders flip the odds on successful change and transformation.
Praise
Elaine Boltz
former Executive Vice President, COO, and Chief Transformation Officer, Crocs
A clear, human-centered guide to organizational change that replaces slogans with actionable steps.
Francisco Crespo
former Chief Growth Officer, Coca-Cola Company
A new prescription for the old problem of change, combining scientific insight with practical guidance.
Francisco Jiménez Sirvent
Global Chief Financial and Integration Officer, IVI RMA Global
Julia Dhar, Kristy R. Ellmer, and Philip Jameson, who have led and enabled change at…
Lynne Biggar
former Global Chief Marketing Officer, Visa
One of the most important elements of a successful transformation is making change stick.
Sigal Zarmi
former Global Head of Transformation, Managing Director, and International CIO, Morgan Stanley; former CIO, PwC; former CIO, GE Capital (Americas)
A clear, human-centered guide to organizational change that replaces slogans with actionable steps. Grounded in deep insight into how people actually experience transformation, How Change Really Works offers principles that leaders can apply to ensure change is embraced—making it real, durable, and impactful.
Francisco Crespo
former Chief Growth Officer, Coca-Cola Company
Julia Dhar, Kristy R. Ellmer, and Philip Jameson, who have led and enabled change at hundreds of companies, are uniquely qualified to write this book. Their insights and tools maximize companies ability to find the light during large-scale change, guiding them to recognized success.
Lynne Biggar
former Global Chief Marketing Officer, Visa
One of the most important elements of a successful transformation is making change stick. How Change Really Works moves beyond the typical strategies and offers seven actionable, evidence-based principles that focus on what motivates behavior and decision-making within an organization. A must-read for every leader.
Sigal Zarmi
former Global Head of Transformation, Managing Director, and International CIO, Morgan Stanley; former CIO, PwC; former CIO, GE Capital (Americas)
The Boston Consulting Group Team
Julia Dhar
North America Leader, BCG People and Organization
Julia Dhar is a global authority on behavioral science in leadership and organizational change. A Managing Partner and Director at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and founder of its Behavioral Science Lab, she advises Fortune 100 companies and governments on how to make better decisions under pressure.
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Julia Dhar
North America Leader, BCG People and Organization
Julia Dhar is a global authority on behavioral science in leadership and organizational change. A Managing Partner and Director at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and founder of its Behavioral Science Lab, she advises Fortune 100 companies and governments on how to make better decisions under pressure.
Julia Dhar
North America Leader, BCG People and Organization
Julia Dhar is a global authority on behavioral science in leadership and organizational change. A Managing Partner and Director at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and founder of its Behavioral Science Lab, she advises Fortune 100 companies and governments on how to make better decisions under pressure.
Kristy R. Ellmer
North America Leader, BCG Transform
Kristy R. Ellmer is a global authority on transformation. She is a former Chief Transformation Officer and has led numerous organizations around the world—in dozens of industries including energy, media, retail, and banking—through periods of profound change. As Managing Director and Partner at Boston Consulting Group, she leads BCG Transform in North America, and she cofounded the firm’s Behavioral Science Lab.
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Kristy R. Ellmer
North America Leader, BCG Transform
Kristy R. Ellmer is a global authority on transformation. She is a former Chief Transformation Officer and has led numerous organizations around the world—in dozens of industries including energy, media, retail, and banking—through periods of profound change. As Managing Director and Partner at Boston Consulting Group, she leads BCG Transform in North America, and she cofounded the firm’s Behavioral Science Lab.
Kristy R. Ellmer
North America Leader, BCG Transform
Kristy R. Ellmer is a global authority on transformation. She is a former Chief Transformation Officer and has led numerous organizations around the world—in dozens of industries including energy, media, retail, and banking—through periods of profound change. As Managing Director and Partner at Boston Consulting Group, she leads BCG Transform in North America, and she cofounded the firm’s Behavioral Science Lab.
Philip Jameson
Senior BCG Expert, Culture and Change
Philip Jameson is a senior expert in organizational change at Boston Consulting Group, where he serves companies undertaking transformation. Philip’s work with BCG has taken him across industries and continents. He served as Chief of Staff for the Sydney Symphony Orchestra from 2018 to 2019, during a period of transformative change.
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Philip Jameson
Senior BCG Expert, Culture and Change
Philip Jameson is a senior expert in organizational change at Boston Consulting Group, where he serves companies undertaking transformation. Philip’s work with BCG has taken him across industries and continents. He served as Chief of Staff for the Sydney Symphony Orchestra from 2018 to 2019, during a period of transformative change.
Philip Jameson
Senior BCG Expert, Culture and Change
Philip Jameson is a senior expert in organizational change at Boston Consulting Group, where he serves companies undertaking transformation. Philip’s work with BCG has taken him across industries and continents. He served as Chief of Staff for the Sydney Symphony Orchestra from 2018 to 2019, during a period of transformative change.