Aug 21, 2026 · 21 min · 10 segments
In this episode, we revisit a tried-and-true formula for assessing the likelihood that a change effort will succeed—or fail. We’re talking about the Beckhard-Harris Change Equation: D × V × F > R We…
Bob StapletonHost
Joyce Wilson-SanfordHostSo anyhow, I was thinking about an oldie but goodie, and that I assume most people, uh, maybe that are listening know it, but it's the, um, formula for change d- uh, used, I don't know if invented, but used by Beckhard Harris, and I'm gonna describe it.
Um, and to me the goodie part is, like you and I often do, we'll share things that we know that has worked for us in different points in time.
I think once we get through this, uh, explanation of the formulas, so what is its relevance in today's world, whether it be organizations or institutions, uh-
Well, it- it's a formula for a- analysis of change and it has various pieces.
I remember when I first used it, I thought, "Nah, nah, nah, nah." No, it's great.
And it gets the right conversations going, and especially if it's used throughout.
So the formula is, and Bob you can help me with this, change times vision times, what's the V? Belief.
So the c- pain or unhappiness of how are things are right now must feel that the current way does not work, so there some ch- change out there.
People must believe the goal is possible and know what the first step is.
When we did this work, and it was a large piece of work in the, a new warehouse, we, um, added, what was it? Was it...
So anyhow, I was thinking about an oldie but goodie, and that I assume most people, uh, maybe that are listening know it, but it's the, um, formula for change d- uh, used, I don't know if invented, but used by Beckhard Harris, and I'm gonna describe it.
Um, and to me the goodie part is, like you and I often do, we'll share things that we know that has worked for us in different points in time.
I think once we get through this, uh, explanation of the formulas, so what is its relevance in today's world, whether it be organizations or institutions, uh-
Well, it- it's a formula for a- analysis of change and it has various pieces.
I remember when I first used it, I thought, "Nah, nah, nah, nah." No, it's great.
And it gets the right conversations going, and especially if it's used throughout.
So the formula is, and Bob you can help me with this, change times vision times, what's the V? Belief.
So the c- pain or unhappiness of how are things are right now must feel that the current way does not work, so there some ch- change out there.
People must believe the goal is possible and know what the first step is.
When we did this work, and it was a large piece of work in the, a new warehouse, we, um, added, what was it? Was it...
Every episode on Radar is fully transcribed, speaker-labeled, and rich with metadata. Here is a taste of this one. Try Radar for free to see the rest.
3 of 8
Survival Mode Versus Future Thinking
Leaders must protect space for future thinking.
When Change Exhausts Everyone
Exhausted teams need more than another mandate.
Force Creates More Resistance
Pressuring people harder can intensify their resistance.
+5 more clips · 9 min 33 sec of audio in all
7 of 21
The rest of this transcript — segmented and speaker-labeled, so you land on the exact moment something was said
All 8 clips — the highlight moments, each cut as its own audio, with a title and a speaker
All 10 segments — the transcript broken into labeled sections, every ad read marked
All 21 topics — jump to every other episode discussing the same subject
Every related episode — other shows Radar links to this one
No account is needed to search Radar.
