How to Overcome Resistance to Change

Stop fighting resistance and promote participation instead

Natalia Blauth (Brazil)/Unsplash+

The CEO of a fast-growing tech company just mandated four days in office, up from two. The stated goal: "Strengthen culture and team collaboration." Within 48 hours, he received pushback from every department.

When he called me, his diagnosis was swift: "People have gotten lazy working from home. They're resisting change."

However, when my team interviewed employees, we discovered the real story. Many now must spend four hours daily commuting—time previously used for focused work. Meanwhile, they sat in cubicles for 90% of their day, taking video calls with clients and colleagues from other locations. The same meetings, the same tasks, just with added commute time and frustration.

Instead of fixating on resistance, we reframed the conversation: "How might we improve team collaboration?" We focused on the goal, not the remote work policy.

The solution emerged quickly: Work at the office for at least two days a week, but make them count. Each team would sele…