Discussion

Exercise 15.1: Overcoming Resistance to Change

Objective

The purpose of this exercise is to understand resistance to change.

Instructions

This exercise is a class discussion based upon employees’ resistance to change. The text discusses ten individual sources of resistance to change. The ten reasons are provided below and are explained in detail within the text:

· Lack of clarity

· Fear of the unknown

· Lack of skills

· Overcommitment to the current model

· Lack of trust

· Being left out

· Change to routine

· Resignation

· Perceptions of change

· Inadequate benefits and rewards

Your instructor will write each on the board or provide a slide with the ten reasons delineated. As a class, discuss each one from a manager’s perspective. As you proceed through the reasons, offer suggestions for steps a manager could take to lessen or remove that particular resistance to change. Be as specific as possible with detailed actions or words the manager could employ in combating each resistance to change.

Reflection Questions

1. Which of the ten reasons for resistance to change is the most challenging for a manager to address? Why?

2. Which of the ten reasons for resistance to change do you engage in most often at work? Explain.

3. What successful strategies have you personally experienced that a manager utilized to combat two or more of the reasons listed above? Why were they so effective?

Exercise contributed by Steven Stovall, Southeast Missouri State University.