Change

Resistancteo change

Definition

Resistanceto changei s the actiont aken by individualsa nd groupsw hen 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 resistanceto occur.

In its usuald escripUonit referst o changew ithin organizationsa, lthoughi t

also is found elsewherein other forms' Resistanceis the equivalento f

obiegtionsin salesa nd disagreemenitn generald isalssions'

Resistancem ay take manyf orms, induding activeo r passive,o vert or covert,

individuaol r organizeda, ggressiveo r timid.

o Rationalefo r resistance:W hat peoplet ell themselves'

The rationalef or resistanceis often quite straightforwarda s peoplej ustify their

actionst o themselves.I f you want to over@mer esistanceto change,y ou must

be able to answer the following points.

I want to stay where I am because'..

Even if you offer me a bowl of cherries, I may not be very. concerned to take

*nit Vou proffer if I am happy where I am now. People who have been in the

sum" pt"i" for a long time are usually in this state. They do not need to change

and witt view any suggestiono f changew ith distaste'

...my needs ar€ already met herc

Needsa re basicd riverso f action.I f needsa re not perceiveda s being

pEffil"rty threatened and the current situation is relatively comfortable

ipantculariyi n comparisonw ith the proposedc hange)t hen I will be happiert o

stay where I am.

If