How to Reduce Resistance to Change

People drive change; change does not drive people. You cannot lead change if you can’t lead people.

Napoleon Bonaparte noticed that when it came to change, there seemed to be three distinct groups in an army. A third of his army would almost always welcome change, a third would oppose change (although not always openly), and the last third was just waiting to see who the winner was.

Unfortunately, most leaders focus their energy and efforts on the group that oppose change. Instead, leaders should focus on the people who welcome change, and those who fall into the wait and see crowd. As the momentum of change begins to tip, those who oppose change will reluctantly come on board, and those who don’t will be eventually seen as out of touch. I am not proposing that you ignore this group completely, just don’t give them the majority of your time or let them suck the energy out of your momentum.

Here are suggestions to move each third on a pathway to engagement.... Keep reading