Reasons for Resistance to
Change
In the current business environment,
change is inevitable. As organizations are faced by changing environment,
workers find them selves in a state of confusion not knowing what change
entails. As a result, resistance arises. One of the main reasons that employees
resist change is fear of failing. Over time, employees develop skills and
become experts. When change comes, many of them are afraid to take up new responsibilities
since they do not want to fail. Another reason is the need to maintain control
that come with familiar routines on a daily basis. This allows workers to
control their working environment. The other reason is fear of the unknown.
When employees are unaware of the changes that will take place, a sense of job
security is lost. Other reasons include unwillingness to learn while others
want to maintain their achieved status.
As a leader, I would prevent or deal with
such resistance through involving the employees in planning the changes that
will take place. In most cases, the resistance comes when employees are not aware
of impact of the change to come. To prevent resistance, I would inform the
employees of the specific changes that will take place to prepare them
psychologically (Quast, 2012). This gives the employees enough time to think
about the changes as well as prepare to receive the change unlike when they are
not aware what change is coming. Additionally, it will allow them to think of
how it would affect them. Secondly, I would indicate who are going to be
impacted by the change. This clarifies who should be worried about the change.
Additionally, this allows those who are not affected to carry on with their
work without any difficulties. Thirdly, I would inform those that will be
affected how the change will impact them. Finally, I would inform them the best
way of coping with the change. This allows employees to prepare as well as welcome
change since they are aware of what to do to cope.
Quast, L. (2012). Overcome The 5 Main Reasons People
Resist Change. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/lisaquast/2012/11/26/overcome-the-5-main-reasons-people-resist-change/
Hi Tony,
ReplyDeleteI found your post very interesting. From my own experience, I know employees do not like changes and they often try to avoid them or, even, refuse them. For example, when the accountant in our company was asked to improve some of his methods which included the usage of the new computer programs, it was a big problem for him. He was still trying to avoid these changes. He was still arguing that it would not work and that it would not be effective. Simple, he was not willing to adapt to these new changes. Nevertheless, he had to accept these changes and had to adapt. Nowadays, he is using these new systems and is very satisfied with them because they help him a lot in his work and they are also timesaving. I think it will always be a problem for some employees to adapt or to accept changes but they have to realize that in many cases such improvements may significantly help them in their performance.
Hi Tony!
ReplyDeleteI really like your blog. This is a great topic to discuss. In my opinion, I agree that many people do not like changes. Not only in a business world but I personally know that when people become used to something, it is very hard to make changes for them. I really do not know about other cultures but in my Slovak culture, generally I know that people do not like changes at all. They are scared of them. For example, Slovakians do not like changing work positions as well. This means that when Slovakians get their job position once, they stay working for this corporation for many years.