DICUSSION 5 1 & 2

Understanding Resistance

Understanding Resistance

• Reasons for client resistance to feedback

  The reason for the client's resistance to feedback is basically due to our resistance to change as a result of the learning process. Understanding this up front will allow you to be prepared for dealing with resistance. It may be advantageous to make the client aware of this before the information is presented. A consultant has to be able to identify when resistance is taking place and review it as a natural process. It is essential to use facts in your feedback because even if a client resists the overall analysis, he or she still wants to know the basis of the outcomes. Trust becomes a very important factor at this point. The consultant must ensure that tasks and performance are addressed and not individuals. Great resistance could become a problem if distrust arises, because the names of individuals come into play. This is especially true if you have been talking up and down the chain of the organization.

• Strategies for addressing client resistance to feedback

  The art of providing feedback is very difficult to develop. A consultant will have to develop strategies to deal with resistance to feedback, because you do not want your project to be accepted or projected to others in a negative manner. Once you realize that resistance is taking place, you should support the client in understanding and expressing the resistance. To lower the resistance, you should develop a strategy that will present feedback that is fact based for the need for improvement in order to move the organization forward. A strategy should provide feedback that can assist even the most experienced managers with the goals and objectives to be able to improve performance and productivity more effectively. The main objective is to realize during this process that in the majority of all cases, resistance will exist and the client may be faced with some difficult tasks as he or she is much closer to the situation. If downsizing or other personnel issues are involved, implementation for the client will also be a difficult task. Take into consideration the fact that the vulnerability of the client is a major concern to him or her.

Refer to the following links to learn more about signs and reasons for change resistance.

Overcoming Resistance to Change: Top Ten Reasons for Change Resistance

Signs of Resistance