Resistance shows people care

Bite sized leadership advice

Resistance is a sign that your communication is getting through. Those that need to change realise that a change is coming and that they need to rebuild the models in their head. It is natural to resist.

I like to think that resistance shows that people are aware that change is coming, if they did not believe that it would impact them they would not be vocal about it.

As humans we are biased to the status quo, we don’t like surprises or changes. We like our routines and habits.

Resistance is a natural part of our change process. We all go through it, whether we thing a change is positive or negative. We are simply human.

Rather than hide from resistance, do the opposite. Welcome it and if you can’t see it, dig deeper.

Give resistance a voice, welcome it so that you can know it and do something about it. Covert (underground) resistance is a dangerous thing. It is like the shark circling just beneath the water waiting to bite you.

Time is a great healer when it comes to change, give those that need to change a chance to rebuid the mental models in their heads.

Resistance is natural. Encourage it, embrace it, give it a voice. Then you can address it.

This is part of our Leadership Wizdom series, bite sized leadership advice for leaders who wish to improve their leadership, but don’t have much time. For more indepth articles check out The Change Wizard