Overcoming Resistance to Change in Development Essay

Introduction

Some changes are inevitable. Sometimes they are long-expected and advantageous, but sometimes they are frightening and undesirable. Thus, changes, even favorable, may cause profound resistance in organizations. Some people are open to the implementation of different improvements, but some are anxious about the obscurity.

Main body

To make the changes work, one should know some guidelines, that make organizational development efficient and useful (Cummings & Worley, 2015). According to Anthony Marker (n. d.), Ph.D. of Boise State University, they are the following:

1. Explain to the employee his benefits. Don’t tell about the advantages of the innovation for the organization. Imagine that you are a seller at the moment, and the customer doesn’t want to know your benefits from the purchase, he wants to know will it satisfy his personal needs.
2. Notify people about possible losses. The greatest human fear is the fear of loss, so, let them know what they will be deprived of.
3. Connect your undertakings with aspects, that are interesting for people. If you know the desirable, changes try to link new reforms to them.
4. Meet the expectations of people. Avoid the resistance to change, making changes, that are appropriate to the current beliefs of employees.
5. Implement the changes among associates. Try to understand the mood of the team and divide it according to their opinions and, then, present the information to the groups of like-minded people.
6. Emphasize future perspectives. Persuade people in the beneficial result of the changes.
7. Clear and accurate terms. Tell very concretely about the threats of the changes, but don’t forget to use positive examples of efficient organizational changes.
8. Make a vivid presentation. Reinforce presented information at the expense of audiovisual means.
9. Don’t overload people with threats and fears.
10. Beware of the advantages and disadvantages of the changes for the employees. All their questions should be answered.

Conclusion

It is always difficult to change something, but it is even more complicated to change it against someone’s will. There are plenty of instruments to persuade people, to overcome the resistance, and, finally, to make necessary changes without losses.

Reference

Cummings, T., & Worley, C. (2015). Organization development & change. Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning.

Marker, A. (n.d.). 10 Strategies You Can Use to Overcome Resistance to Change. Web.