Invite and Unite: How to Accelerate Organizational Change

Goodbye coercion, hello conversation

Goodbye coercion, hello participation.

Photo by Joanjo Pavon on Unsplash

“In governing, don’t try to control. In work, do what you enjoy. In family life, be completely present.” –Lao Tsu

People don’t resist change; they resist being changed by others. That’s why most change management initiatives fail — they try to impose a new view with a top-down approach.

Driving sustainable change requires more than proper communication, project management, or buy-in. People want to be part of the conversation, not just feel they are. They want to be invited to the party, not forced to join it.

Organizations don’t change, people do. The more you try to impose change, the more they will resist it — coercion fuels resistance.

Turn Change into an Invitation

“If you don’t trust the people, you make them untrustworthy.” –Lao Tsu

Driving change is not easy but, nevertheless is exciting. However, most companies position change initiatives in a way that looks like a threat or a burden — they fuel additional resis…