Term Paper

I think employees often see change as a threat because it brings about fear. It's an uncertainty that is inevitable, often times, people may be concerned as to how the change will affect their job, and their livelihood and that alone can bring out the worst fears for an individual. At times change requires a different mindset, different skills and may even affect power status. There is also the issue if the source of the change isn't respected or trusted by questioning the changes that are being made, especially if the change is coming from an outside source or department all together. The change may be viewed from an entirely different perspective, even if the change is needed and warranted. Some people are just intolerant to change. They are more vested in protecting the status qua no matter how clear the benefits of change would be. At the end of the day it is a fear that takes precedence over everything.

As a manager, there are a couple things that can be done to overcome that resistance, I think the key is to manage resistance by recognizing the inevitability of it. It has to be something that is address openly; it can't be something that is kept quiet on the hush, hush. A manager has to openly address and discuss it with their employees in order to alleviate all of their fears and concerns. Also, the manager has to put themselves in their employee's shoes, they have to understand that resistance will be experienced differently, it can be seen in a positive or a negative or a negative light. Every employee's reaction to change will be different. The manager has to also realize that people may not be comfortable expressing the real reasons for resistance because it touches on their feelings and this requires an atmosphere for open and honest communication. At times change can be good and necessary, but as I said before, people are more vested in protecting the status qua, whether it is the stability or just being plain comfortable. Resistance to change is inevitable.