How do you lead teams through change when resistance is high?
- Neil Marley
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Are you frustrated that your teams don’t want to change or try new ideas?
I don’t think it’s possible to enforce change in another human. Change is an internal process, not an external one.
So what can you do to help? You can give people a new input: a piece of data that could change their perspective.
As an example, let's say you know you are overweight and you want to do something about it, but you don't persist with diets and lifestyle choices. I've been through this myself and it's quite confusing: I think I want to change but my actions don't follow. We are bombarded with lots of health facts about obesity, which seem like they would be strong motivators, but if they were then why don't you act?
I suspect the reason is the lack of connection to a very specific, personal attribute or value that you hold. Not money, not common sense, not logic - something emotional at your core.
I read this article in The Times the other day and it has changed my perception on the food I eat. For better or worse, it appears that I care more about looking after my brain than my body, so I have now installed a new programme: I now look at a chocolate bar and think about cognitive decline.
It's a new way of thinking about food for me.
If we apply this thinking to business change then it follows we need to help people find their own link to their personal motivators.
😀 Change is personal. The new programme has to directly impact the sense of self in a positive way.
😀 Change needs to be internal. You can’t force real change.
😀 Everyone develops the story and linkages at a different pace. Some might not finish the story.
If your business is going through a hard change (growth, optimisation, acquisition) how will you help your team through the process?
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