The Agile Daily Standup - AgileDad

The Top 4 Reasons Your Team Might Be Resistant To Change - Mike Cohn

Feb 13, 2024

Explore the top 4 reasons behind team resistance to change including lack of awareness, fear of the unknown, job security concerns, and lack of executive advocacy. Learn how transparency, communication, and leadership support can help overcome resistance to change in organizations.

06:13

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Mike Cohn

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Quick takeaways

Understanding the 'why' behind change is crucial for team support.

Providing clear information and setting expectations alleviates anxiety and uncertainties surrounding change.

Deep dives

Reason 1: Lack of Awareness about the Change

One significant reason why teams resist change is due to a lack of awareness about the necessity of the change. Understanding the 'why' behind the change is crucial for gaining team support. Transparency about the reasons for change helps build confidence in the decision and clarifies the direction moving forward. Communicating the purpose behind a change enhances team motivation and receptiveness to the new direction.

Analyzing Team Resistance to Change

4min

Understanding Resistance to Change in Organizations

2min

The Top 4 Reasons Your Team Might Be Resistant To Change - Mike Cohn

Reason 1: Lack of Awareness about Why

The most common reason people resist change is a lack of awareness about the reasons for the change. If your team is being split into two teams, you’re much more likely to support that change if you understand why it’s happening.

Reason 2: Lack of Information about What

Another reason employees resist change is a fear of the unknown. I might be willing to go skydiving one day. (My friends would tell you there’s no way I’d ever do that, and I tend to agree. But for the sake of argument, let’s pretend I’d agreed to give skydiving a try.)

When it’s time to jump out of the airplane, I’ll be a lot more inclined to go through with it if an instructor has removed the fear of the unknown by telling me exactly what to expect.

Reason 3: Lack of Job Security

The third most common reason employees resist change is a lack of job security. I’ve got bills to pay and mouths to feed. Will I still have a job after the change? If a change is introduced and I’m worried it could affect my job, I’m probably going to resist that change.

Reason 4: Lack of Executive Advocacy

Finally, the fourth most common reason employees resist change is a lack of executive sponsorship for the change. We’re all much more likely to support a change if there is at least one key leader advocating for the change.

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