Skillsoft Blended Learning Resource s4

Skillsoft Blended Learning Resource

Reactions to Change – Assessment Activity

When it comes to doing things differently, most people are either resistant or apathetic, and that makes introducing change a real challenge.

You can use this activity to make an assessment of where people in your organization stand with regard to a change initiative. In doing so, it will help you to make choices about your approach to leading employees through the change.

Reactions to Change

Employees often view change differently than executives. At the executive level, change can sometimes equate to opportunity, and even personal gain. Management gets fired up about improving processes and increasing customer service, and then expects employees to mirror their enthusiasm.

For an employee, however, change can be a scary concept, met with immediate feelings of disruption. Change often fails because employees' knee-jerk reaction is to resist it at all costs.

Members of a leader's team may react differently to change, and leaders must recognize these reactions and adapt accordingly. In addition, if there are informal leaders in the team, their reactions will have an influence on others. Leaders must be sensitive to the power of human reactions to change – including their own reactions.

Skeptical

People who are skeptical about change are harder to sway. They need proof that the change will be beneficial and will provide them with security for the future.

Resistant

People who resist change are those who don't buy in to the organization's vision. They need to be persuaded. Make them understand why the change has to occur.

Ambivalent

People who are ambivalent can be swayed if they are shown concrete indicators of success. Evidence of successful similar change initiatives will help them to see the necessity.

Enthusiastic

Enthusiastic people are eager to embrace the change. They are motivated and willing to learn the hows and whys of the change and the strategy behind it.

Assessment Activity

Think of a change you are dealing with, and the people in your team. Considering the four reactions to change mentioned above, where would you align them in terms of their reactions to the change?

Ratings: 1 – Skeptical; 2 – Resistant; 3 – Ambivalent; 4 - Enthusiastic

Employees

Employee name / Rating
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4

Think of a change you are dealing with. Considering the four reactions to change, where would you place yourself, your manager, and your peers?

Others

Employee name / Rating
Yourself / 1 2 3 4
Your manager / 1 2 3 4
Your peers
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4
1 2 3 4

Given these various reactions to change, what do you need to do to play a leadership role?

Conclusions