Resistance to change

Disciplines > Change Management > Resistance to change

Definition | Articles | See also

Definition

Resistance to change is the action taken by individuals and groups when they perceive that a change that is occurring as a threat to them.

Key words here are 'perceive' and 'threat'. The threat need not be real or large for resistance to occur. 

In its usual description it refers to change within organizations, although it also is found elsewhere in other forms. Resistance is the equivalent of objections in sales and disagreement in general discussions.

Resistance may take many forms, including active or passive, overt or covert, individual or organized, aggressive or timid.

Articles

• Rationale for resistance: What people tell themselves.
• The nature of opposition: knowing your 'enemies' in change.
• The resistance zoo: the animals and their styles of resistance.
• Signs of resistance: spotting subtle signals of dissent.
• Dealing with resistance: a range of methods may be used.
• How to cause resistance: there are many ways!
• Responding to unexpected resistance: When faced with pushback, what do you do?

See also

Objection-handling, Theories about resistance, Defensive body language, Fallacies, Coping Mechanisms, Resisting persuasion