Resistance to change

Question 1

What are the Generic Resistance-Giving Backgrounds?

Answer 1

1. Complacency
2. Resignation
3. Cynicism

Question 2

‘Denial of the need for change, accompanied by procrastination, avoidance, and withdrawal’ are examples of which type of conversation?

Answer 2

Complacency

Question 3

‘Lack of attention to the proposal for change, along with reduced morale, non-participation, and other forms of covert withholding’ are examples of which type of conversation?

Answer 3

Resignation

Question 4

‘Some overt rejection of the change proposal with a likelihood of less visible sabotage, hidden agendas, and politicking’ are examples of which type of conversation?

Answer 4

Cynicism

Question 5

Complacent conversations…

Answer 5

• Engender conversations that reinforce complacent resistance, e.g. that new goals are unnecessary in the face of presumed continuation of prior successes.
• “Success breeds failure’’ syndrome where people continue to practice once-successful strategies and actions assuming that that is all that is necessary to continue producing success.

Question 6

Resigned conversations…

Answer 6

• Constructed from historical failure, rather than from success.
• “This probably won’t work either’’
• Conversations for self-blame dominate, and individuals blame themselves or their society for the inability to succeed

Question 7

Cynical conversations…

Answer 7

• Constructed from historical failure either directly or vicariously experienced through stories and narratives of others’ experiences.
• When a change initiative fails, its failure serves as a validation of the cynical background, thus expanding or strengthening the construction.
• Failure and inauthenticity are expected, due to shortcomings in others, in the organisation or larger systems, or in the world, and nothing can be done to right the wrongs.