Capability Developing: Equipping People to Thrive in Change

"Leaders who invest in building capability don’t just prepare people for change—they empower them to sustain it." – Adapted from Zenger & Folkman.

In our 5C Responsibilities of Change Leaders, we’ve already explored Commitment Building and Collaboration. This month, we turn to the third 'C': Capability Developing—a responsibility often underestimated yet critical for long-term change success.

What is Capability Developing? It’s the deliberate act of enabling people to gain the knowledge and ability to adopt, use, and be proficient in the new ways of working. Importantly, it also involves reinforcing those skills so that learning becomes embedded, not forgotten.

It is essential to remember that sending people to training is not the first step leaders should take. The initial focus should be on Awareness and Acceptance of the reasons for the change initiative.

Why 'Capability Developing' Matters

Research consistently highlights capability development as a cornerstone of successful change: