There are 12 common reasons why people resist change in the workplace.
Today the focus is on 4 of those areas.
- Job Loss
Any process, technological advancement, systems, or product change will include streamlining, working smarter, cost reduction, efficiency, or faster turnaround times. Staff and or managers will resist the changes that result in their roles being eliminated or reduced. From their perspective change is harmful to their position.
- Poor Communication Strategy
An inability or unwillingness to communicate what, why, how, when, who and what success will look like or how success is going to be measured you can expect resistance! Staffers that do not understand the need for change will have their back up. Especially those staff who strongly believe the current way of doing things works well and has done so over many years.
- Shock and Fear of the Unknown
A typical break down of staff reaction to change is 20% being highly supportive, 20% aggressively, and 60% being ambivalent about it. During periods of change some s may feel the need to cling to the past because it was a more secure, predictable time. If what they did in the past worked well for them, they may resist changing their behavior out of fear that they will not achieve as much in the future.
- Loss of Control
Routines provide staff with a sense of control over their environments. Being asked to change the way they operate may add to feelings of powerless and confusion. People are more likely to understand and implement changes when they feel they have some form of control.
Need greater clarity – contact me to discuss.
Solo and Small Biz Change Agent, Marie-Helene Sakowski at info@effectiveplacement.com
