Demystify Culture

Demystify Culture

What Resistance to Change Reveals about Your Leadership

Are you paying attention?

Gustavo Razzetti's avatar
Gustavo Razzetti
Oct 15, 2018
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Are you paying attention?

Don’t fight resistance. Pay attention. — Photo by Joshua Jamias

Resistance has a bad reputation.

We see resistance as something negative — we blame people for getting in the way. As a former CEO, I’ve been there many times. We are so focused on driving change, that we have little patience for those who resist (us).

However, resistance is a necessary force of change. As Stanford’s Bob Sutton said: “If you are not facing resistance, it is because you are not pushing too hard.”

Stop fighting resistance and start paying attention. Let’s use it to reflect on what we can improve as change leaders.

The True Meaning of Resistance

“It is easier to resist at the beginning than at the end.” 
― Leonardo da Vinci

Many times people resist change because they don’t want to try something new. Maybe they are too comfortable or afraid of uncertainty. Sometimes, they fear failure or believe they don’t have what it takes.

However, many times people are just tired, confused, or not feeling…

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