Why Your Employees Resist Change
During the last leadership training we held, one of the sales leaders shared their struggle with implementing change within their team.
“I’ve recently been tasked with improving the accountability of my sales team. As part of this, we’ve introduced a mandatory weekly sales report to track performance and identify areas for improvement. However, I’ve been met with strong resistance. Some team members claim it’s unnecessary paperwork, others delay submitting their reports, and a few even question the need for increased monitoring, arguing that results should speak for themselves.
I feel like these reports will ultimately help them close more deals and improve their performance, but the pushback has been overwhelming. Some members openly complain that it’s an added burden, while others quietly ignore the directive. A few senior sales reps have even influenced their colleagues to resist the change, arguing that they’ve done fine without reports for years.
I find myself wondering—how do I implement this change without causing resentment? How do I make them see the value without forcing it on them? What strategies have worked for others in successfully leading a team through change?” he asked.
It’s easy to get excited about implementing a change in your organization when you’re the force behind it, but not everyone may share your enthusiasm.
When employees resist change, from using new systems, following a new process, or reporting to a new manager, organizations cannot successfully achieve business outcomes.
Sometimes employees just resist change because they don’t want to alter their habits. That’s why whenever you implement widespread change, there are four types of employees:
- Employees who eagerly accept the change;
- Employees who actively seek to undermine the change to restore the status quo;
- Employees who couldn’t care either way; and
- Those who don’t realize that a change was made because they never followed the old procedures.
You want to maximize (1) while keeping (2) away from (3) and (4).
Here are a few reasons I highlighted that causes workers to resist change;
1. Surprising employees with change
Following up on the conversation with this leader, it turns out they had been discussing this process for a long time with the management but didn’t take time to communicate this with their teams until the last minute when they told their workforce that there was a new way of doing things.
Unfortunately, when you impose change on people suddenly, and people are not given a chance to get used to it, then it is hard for them to accept it. However, when you progressively introduce change and communicate it from the beginning, then it becomes easier for people to accept.
2. Employees may feel threatened
What do you think happened in the above case when employees heard ‘weekly sales report? When most employees hear the introduction of a new process, they see it as a threat to their jobs.
Other times, some staff were there when the last change was implemented and they saw the results of it. Depending on how it turned out, it can make them defensive.
This is why leaders ought to be transparent and honest when these changes pose a real threat to their staff’s work. It will not always be good news, but finding a way to make employees comfortable can be helpful. Additionally, providing information, training, or even coaching can be helpful to ease the transition.
3. It may look like more work
Sometimes, staff may feel change comes with more work that they have not necessarily been incentivized for. It is also disruptive because it means that it will affect the whole business from your staff to your clients and stakeholders. At the end of the day, it is your employees’ work to ensure that this aligns well.
So, what can you do? Can you allow other employees to exclusively focus on the change? Do you add extra perks or do you recruit more staff? You have to do what is best for your business. However, acknowledging this and doing something to make them feel recognized and walk with them through the disruption can make the change easier to deal with.
4. It may feel like one is losing control
Human beings are used to structure and routine thus change can be difficult. It is normal for people to feel like they have lost control and are uncertain as they are used to doing things a certain way.
However, when leaders reduce the number of times change happens and when it does, invite others into the planning to get their buy-in, and trust and give them ownership, it is made much easier. This can be done by introducing change with structure, clarity and simplicity.
Change can be uncomfortable and although leaders can’t always make people feel comfortable, they can do something about it such as looking into what is causing the resistance and working towards solutions. Additionally, listening to your employees and using the feedback they give can help improve the process of gaining acceptance for change.
Upcoming Training: Join other managers and C.E.O who’ve booked.
If you’re struggling with employees accepting change in your organization, join our exclusive PHYSICAL training “Leading Through Change: Strategies to Overcome Resistance” on Friday, March 7th, 2025, from 8.30 AM-4 PM.
What you’ll Learn
- Learn the techniques necessary to drive change in business or throughout entire organization
- Define the concept of change and change management.
- Understand key roles in the change management process.
- Determine the phases of change management.
- Learn to formulate an effective plan for the change process.
- Deeply understand the reasons for resistance to change.
- Find out about effective methods of preventing and eliminating resistance to change.
- Gain the ability to design fruitful communication related to the change process.
- Learn techniques for effective implementation of change.
- Develop skills associated with controlling the change process.
- Build proficiency in shaping a change-oriented organizational culture.
Your Investment: Ksh25,000 + VAT
Secure your spot today by replying to this email events@corporatestaffing.co.ke.