CLC Organizational Change Management

Question 1

A leader is implementing a company-wide restructuring. According to Kotter's 8-Step Change Model, which step must come BEFORE creating a vision for change?

Accepted Answer

Establishing a sense of urgency

Answer

Kotter's model begins with creating a sense of urgency (Step 1) to motivate people and overcome complacency. Without this foundation, later steps — including forming a guiding coalition and creating a vision — lack the emotional energy needed to succeed.

Question 2

The ADKAR change management model identifies five building blocks for successful individual change. Which element addresses a person's desire to support and participate in the change?

Accepted Answer

Desire

Answer

ADKAR stands for Awareness, Desire, Knowledge, Ability, and Reinforcement. 'Desire' specifically represents the personal motivation and choice to engage with the change — it cannot be mandated and is often the most fragile element.

Question 3

Kurt Lewin's three-stage change model describes organizational change as a sequential process. What is the correct order of the three stages?

Accepted Answer

Unfreeze → Change → Refreeze

Answer

Lewin's model starts with 'Unfreeze' (disrupting the status quo and creating readiness), moves to 'Change' (implementing new behaviors or structures), and ends with 'Refreeze' (embedding the new state so it becomes the norm).

Question 4

An employee who has been with a company for 20 years is visibly anxious and performing below expectations following a merger announcement. As a leadership coach, your FIRST priority is to:

Accepted Answer

Acknowledge and explore the employee's emotional response to the change

Answer

Coaching through change requires meeting people where they are emotionally before moving to rational problem-solving. Acknowledging the emotional response builds psychological safety and trust, which are prerequisites for the employee to engage constructively with the transition.

Question 5

The change curve, originally adapted from Kübler-Ross's grief model, is used by leadership coaches to anticipate employee reactions. Which stage typically follows initial shock and denial?

Accepted Answer

Anger and resistance

Answer

After shock and denial, individuals typically move into anger and resistance — a natural defensive response to perceived loss or threat. Coaches who recognize this stage can normalize the reaction and avoid escalating conflict by responding with empathy rather than pressure.

(CLC) Certified Leadership Coach Practice Test

(CLC) Certified Leadership Coach Practice Test

CLC Organizational Change Management