The principle
Everyone understands the need for change in the abstract, but at the immediate level people are creatures of habit. Too much innovation provokes a revolt against the reformer.
The application
Talk about change loudly. Implement change quietly and incrementally. The two sentences are the entire job description of a change leader who survives the change.
The defensive tell — how to spot it being run on you
When a new leader announces sweeping changes but then implements them at half the announced pace, do not assume incompetence. They are following this law. Anchor on what is actually changing, not what was announced.