The Non-Anxious Leader Podcast Episode 345: How to Reduce Resistance to Change
Aug 25, 2025
Explore the intriguing dynamics of resistance to change. Discover Kurt Lewin's force field analysis, a framework that balances driving and restraining forces. Learn how design thinking can engage communities, using empathy and minimal viable products to spark enthusiasm. Delve into the emotional side of change, including its ties to grief, and find out how active listening can transform resistance into collaboration. This discussion is packed with practical insights for navigating change effectively.
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Force Field View Of Change
- Kurt Lewin's force field analysis frames change as a balance between driving and restraining forces.
- Change happens by strengthening drivers or weakening resistors, and psychological forces shape outcomes.
Weaken Resistors, Not Just Push Drivers
- Focus on removing restraining forces rather than only amplifying driving forces when leading change.
- State your vision clearly while giving people the freedom to decide whether to follow.
Use Small Experiments As MVPs
- Use design thinking and small experiments (MVPs) to reduce resistance and test ideas quickly.
- Frame initiatives as temporary experiments to avoid perceptions of long-term resource drains.
