Discover why people resist change and what leaders can do to help their teams embrace it.
What Causes People to Resist Change?
Resistance to change is a significant challenge in many organizations. However, before we can consider ways to reduce this resistance, it’s essential to understand why people resist change in the first place.
The brain is wired to optimize the amount of information it needs to process. Given the constant flow of stimuli, it continuously filters information to determine what is relevant and what is not.
When presented with new information, the brain will ask: How is this relevant to me, my needs, or my interests? Does this pose a challenge that I need to address? Is this something that captures my attention?
New information and challenges require significant mental energy, so for individuals to accept and implement a change, it must first pass through these initial filters. If the proposed change is not perceived as relevant, interesting, or a solution to a challenge, it is unlikely to be well-received.
Additionally, change requires effort, and if a group of people feels overworked and stressed, they will struggle to respond positively to change, even if they recognize its potential value.
How Can We Support People in Embracing Change?
There are several steps organizations can take to help people embrace change:
- The first step is to acknowledge that change requires time and energy.
- Involve individuals in identifying their needs and designing the change initiative. Engaging people in the early stages of the change process helps ensure that the proposed changes are personally relevant and beneficial.
- Actively support the development of new habits to make the change easier to adopt. This can be done by introducing change through the path of least resistance, offering small and frequent positive rewards, and making the necessary steps for change as routine as possible.
The Role of Coaching in Supporting Change
Coaching is an effective way for organizations to help individuals adapt to change. It not only fosters a learning culture across the organization, but also serves as a valuable tool for supporting each team member in processing and adjusting to change, achieving goals, and staying creative throughout the process.