{"id":112,"date":"2009-05-11T10:51:04","date_gmt":"2009-05-11T05:51:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mdi.com.pk\/management\/?p=112"},"modified":"2016-02-22T21:12:12","modified_gmt":"2016-02-22T16:12:12","slug":"how-people-react-to-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mdi.com.pk\/management\/2009\/05\/how-people-react-to-change\/","title":{"rendered":"How People React to Change"},"content":{"rendered":"

Based on the dynamics of change as formulated by Ken Blanchard in 1992 and still as valid now as then. There are seven typical ways how people react to change. I<\/em>n the current times of economic challenges and organizational downsizing, it is important to <\/em>summarize these and remember… <\/em><\/p>\n

Whatever the kinds of change that people encounter, there are certain patterns of response that occur and re-occur.\u00a0 It is important that change leaders understand some of\u00a0 these patterns, since they are normal outcomes of the change process.\u00a0 Understanding these allows leaders to avoid over-reacting to the behaviors of people. It also helps change agents to appreciate why and how people react to change adversely and with resistance…<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

People feel awkward, ill-at-ease, self-conscious<\/strong><\/p>\n

Whenever you ask people to do things differently, you disrupt their habitual ways of doing things.\u00a0 This tends to make people feel awkward or uncomfortable as they struggle to eliminate the old responses and learn the new.\u00a0\u00a0 Think back to your own experience and you will discover this theme.\u00a0 Whether it be learning to use a computer, the first time picking up your infant, or dealing with a new reporting relationship, recall the self-consciousness that you probably felt.\u00a0 People want to get it right, and fear that they will appear inadequate.<\/p>\n

People initially focus on what they have to give<\/strong> up<\/strong><\/p>\n

Even for positive changes such as promotions, or those that result in more autonomy or authority, people will concentrate on what they will be losing.\u00a0 As a change leader you need to acknowledge the loss of the old ways, and not get frustrated at what may seem to be an irrational or tentative response to change. It is said that resistance to change is often due to a fear of some loss<\/p>\n

People will feel alone even if everyone else is involved<\/strong><\/p>\n

Everyone feels (or wants to feel) that their situation is unique and special.\u00a0 Unfortunately, this tends to increase the sense of isolation for people undergoing change.\u00a0 It is important for the change leader to be proactive and gentle in showing that the employee’s situation is understood.\u00a0 If\u00a0 employees see YOU as emotionally and practically supportive during the tough times your position will be enhanced and the change will be easier.<\/p>\n

People can handle only so much change<\/strong><\/p>\n

On a personal level, people who undergo too much change within too short a time will become dysfunctional, and in some cases may become physically sick.\u00a0 While some changes are beyond our control, it is important not to pile change upon change upon change.\u00a0 While changes such as downsizing bring opportunity to do other positive things, the timing of additional changes is important.\u00a0 If you are contemplating introducing changes (that are under your control), it may be a good idea to bounce your ideas off employees.\u00a0 A good question to ask is “How would you feel if…..”<\/p>\n

Different people are at different levels of readiness for change<\/strong><\/p>\n

Some people thrive and change.\u00a0 It’s exciting to them.\u00a0 Others don’t.\u00a0 It’s threatening to them.\u00a0 Understand that any change will have supporters and people who have difficulty adapting.\u00a0 In time, no matter how people react to change adversely and resist, eventuallymost will tend to come on board.\u00a0 Consider that those people who are more ready for the change can influence others who are less ready.\u00a0\u00a0 Open discussion allows this influence process to occur.<\/p>\n

People will be concerned that they don’t have enough resources<\/strong><\/p>\n

People perceive that change takes time and effort, even if it has the long term effect of reducing workload.\u00a0 They are correct that there is a learning time for most change, and that this may affect their work.\u00a0 It is important for change leaders to acknowledge that this may occur, and to offer practical support if possible.\u00a0 In the downsizing scenario this will be even more crucial, since resources themselves are cut.\u00a0 Consider following the downsizing with a worksmart process, whereby job tasks are reviewed to examine whether they are still necessary.<\/p>\n

If you take the pressure off, people will revert to their old behaviour<\/strong><\/p>\n

If people perceive that you are not serious about doing things the new way, they will go back to the old way.\u00a0 Sometimes this will be in the open, and sometimes this will be covert.\u00a0 The leader must remind people that there is a new course, and that the new course will remain.\u00a0 Coaching towards the new ways is also important.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n

It is important for leaders to anticipate and respond to employee concerns and feelings, whether they are expressed in terms of practical issues, or emotional responses.\u00a0 When planning for, and anticipating change, include a detailed reaction analysis.\u00a0 Try to identify the kinds of reactions and questions that\u00a0 employees will have, and prepare your responses.\u00a0 Remember that the success of any change rests with the ability of the leaders to address both the emotional and practical issues, in that order.<\/p>\n

For additional insight, please read this<\/a>\u00a0article on Change Management<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Based on the dynamics of change as formulated by Ken Blanchard in 1992 and still as valid now as then. There are seven typical ways how people react to change. In the current times of economic challenges and organizational downsizing, it is important to summarize these and remember… Whatever the kinds of change that people […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23,2,4,21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-112","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-change-management","category-hr-management","category-management-and-leadership","category-organizational-development","post-preview"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mdi.com.pk\/management\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/112","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mdi.com.pk\/management\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mdi.com.pk\/management\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mdi.com.pk\/management\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mdi.com.pk\/management\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=112"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/mdi.com.pk\/management\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/112\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":806,"href":"https:\/\/mdi.com.pk\/management\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/112\/revisions\/806"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mdi.com.pk\/management\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=112"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mdi.com.pk\/management\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=112"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mdi.com.pk\/management\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=112"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}