What Jazz Taught Me About Change Management

Lately, I’ve been watching Ken Burns’ Jazz documentary, and it’s been unexpectedly emotional. As a white woman working in HR and consulting on organizational change, it’s made me pause and reflect—on history, on rhythm, on resistance, and on how we navigate the unknown together.

Jazz is raw. It’s born from struggle, adaptation, improvisation. It breaks rules, makes space for individuality, and somehow keeps everyone moving in the same direction. That’s change management in a nutshell.

When an organization goes through change—whether it’s a restructure, new leadership, or shifting culture—it can feel a lot like jazz. There's discomfort. People are unsure of their part, the beat feels off, and no one’s quite sure what comes next. But here’s the thing: jazz doesn’t need a perfect plan. It thrives on trust, deep listening, and collaboration. And so does change.

At BeeBright, I approach change management the same way. I don’t hand out rigid scripts. I create frameworks that allow for movement. I help teams find their rhythm together, even when the tune keeps shifting. And I always—always—center humanity, because change without empathy just sounds like noise.

Jazz also reminds me that not everyone starts on the same beat. Some voices have been drowned out for a long time. Making space for those voices—really listening and adapting—isn’t just good HR, it’s good humanity.

So, if your team is going through something new or uncertain, maybe don’t reach for a playbook. Reach for a jam session. Bring in different voices. Listen more than you speak. Improvise, reflect, adjust. And know that even in the chaos, something beautiful can emerge.

Because change, like jazz, isn’t about perfection—it’s about presence.