How to Overcome Resistance to Change and Break Free from Old Practices That Are Holding You Back

Resistance to change is a common psychological phenomenon. It basically works like this: when our teams are faced with a new way of doing things, they instinctively feel challenged. Their brains go into overdrive, searching for a potential threat.

3 Common Reasons Why People Resist Change

Here are the top 3 common reasons why people resist change:

1. Fear of the unknown: It can be hard to accept change when you’re uncertain of the outcome. It’s even harder when that change disrupts your daily working routine. This is why people tend to stick with the status quo.

2. Loss of control: It’s natural to resist change if you feel like you’re losing leverage. If someone imposes a change upon you, you might feel like you don’t have a say or that your opinion doesn’t matter. This can lead to feelings of frustration and resentment.

3. Predictability: We’re attached to things that are familiar and predictable. We avoid things that require extra effort and energy. You might find yourself resisting change simply because it prods you outside your comfort zone. The more time, effort and resources required, the harder it is to make a change.

A little-known fact is that all 3 of these are actually rooted in a person’s identity.

Here’s what I mean:

Each person gets their sense of value and identity from the role they play in the team. If you were to implement a change initiative that affected the way they did their job, they might feel personally called out.

No one wants to lose that sense of security that comes from knowing they’re good at the job they do.

As a leader, understanding this fact will go a long way in helping you anticipate how your team members will feel about the business endeavor you’re initiating. It will also help you help them address their concerns.

3 Tips to Overcome Resistance to Change

Here are 3 tips that will help you overcome identity-related resistance:

1. Involve people in the change process: Make sure the people who will be affected by the change have a voice in the process. Take their opinions and preferences into account. Not only will they be more receptive to the change, but they will be more invested in it and likely to take ownership for their own role in it.

2. Communicate clearly and transparently: Some of the biggest headaches in life are simply a result of poor communication. You can save yourself a lot of stress by laying out your reasons for the change as clearly and transparently as possible – giving your team members plenty of opportunity to understand and see all the benefits. Make sure you also communicate any potential challenges or drawbacks so that your team members are prepared for them and feel like they’re being given a complete picture of the situation.

How to Overcome Resistance to Change and Break Free from Old Practices That Are Holding You Back

3. Provide training and support: Provide as much training as necessary to help your team members adapt to their new roles. By setting them up for success and giving them ongoing support, they’re much more likely to feel good about the new situations and prepared for the changes ahead.

Remember, at the end of the day, it comes down to empathy: understanding where your team members are coming from, and doing your best to acknowledge and address their concerns.

Here’s your action item for today: gather your team together and talk about the goals behind your next change management initiative. Be sure to keep the conversation streamlined and listen to each person’s input and specific concerns. No one should be left out of the process. I can say for a fact this is the most effective approach to overcoming resistance to change.