OVERCOMING RESISTANCE TO CHANGE
An excerpt from The Employee Handbook for Organizational Change
Some people cling desperately to the past. They hang on to what’s familiar, snuggling ever deeper into their comfortable routines to avoid the chilling thought that they might have to change. Someone said, “No organization is so screwed up that somebody doesn’t like it as it is.” Change always means giving up something, and the greater the personal sacrifice the more you feel like dragging your feet.
Another reason why people defend the old way of doing things is to maintain personal stability or feel more in control. They battle against change out of fear of the future, not because of love for the past. If uncertainty and ambiguity eat on your nerves, you can’t get very pumped up about “progress.” The more you dislike unpredictability, the more you’re likely to protect the status quo.
A third group of people resists change as a way of getting even. They play “punish the organization” in retaliation for changes they don’t like. We’re talking here about plain old revenge. And the fascinating thing is to watch how people are willing to damage themselves just to get back at the organization.
Finally, some change resisters are well-intentioned people who think they see their outfit about to make a mistake, and have the courage to try and stop it. They fight change because they (1) have the organization’s best interests at heart and (2) have enough nerve to take a stand. But frankly, these people with good intentions often happen to be wrong. In trying to save the organization, they shoot it in the foot.
When an organization initiates changes—does it on purpose—you can bet there are compelling reasons. Almost always you can find a strong financial argument for what’s going on. Study the situation:
Are outside events forcing the changes?
Must the organization swallow some bitter medicine to stay alive?
Will a tough exercise like this develop needed organizational muscle?
When the winds of change hit your organization, here’s the bottom line: Resisting does more harm than good. To begin with, you could get nailed for being oppositional—someone may accuse you of causing trouble, getting in the way of progress. That easily damages your career.
Second, resisting change takes effort, and you can find more productive ways to spend your energy.
Besides, you’re probably going to lose the battle anyway. Even if you do win a skirmish now and then, you’re going to lose the war.
Instead of trying to hang on to the past, grab hold of the future.
