I often hear (or read) the phrase, “People don’t resist change; they resist being changed.”
No one wants change to be imposed on them to the point of helplessness and lack of control. If you try, you are headed for a full-on revolt.
Instead, involve people in shaping the change, so it doesn’t feel like it is happening to them, but with them.
- Ask them to help develop the new process that they will be using in their jobs.
- Involve them in decisions that will affect them.
- Invite them to design the report or the tool or the form they will use every day.
- Find out what else they think should be fixed during the implementation.
Not only will you reduce resistance by giving people some control over their own situation, but the end result will be better because you involved them.
How might you involve people?
Read more of the 99 Ways to Influence Change.
