Re: Resistance to change LO562 (Was: Reinforcing...)

C. B. Willis (cbwillis@netcom.com)
Mon, 27 Mar 1995 18:53:39 -0800 (PST)

Roland Foerster asked in LO552:
> Does anyone have exercises which could be used to unhide these
> reasons behind "resistance to change"? How could we unlock the
> potential by not trying to overcome this resistnace, but to
> effectively deal with it in a productive manner?

Assuming X is the change in question, you can ask them:

What would happen if X?

What concerns do you have about X?

What disagreement(s) do you have about X?

How would X change the way you do business?

How would X change the way you manage?

How would X change your future?

etc.

These questions can sometimes smoke out the underlying considerations
causing the resistance, if you have a good rapport and trust, and the
person is willing to be honest with you. The idea is to direct their
attention in a non-threatening way that gets them to list out
their considerations, or expound at length in a less structured way.

It's more effective to come at the "resistance" indirectly than directly,
as directly is likely to be construed as an attack and tends to evoke
ego defensiveness.

C.B. Willis
Executive Inquiry
1250 Oakmead Pkwy, Ste 210, Sunnyvale CA 94088
408-734-9110
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