People resist change for various reasons

Last week I discussed the types of individuals who resist change:

One who fears the unknown;

One who has an exceptional need for control

One who detests compliance

One who feels overwhelmed;

One who is under-motivated;

One who has tunnel vision.

These personality types have problems with change and need to reframe their perceptions.

• The person who fears the unknown suffers from poor self-esteem, as do all people who resist change. This person often has a “knee jerk” response to change, associating change with failure due to a history of perceived failures.

This person needs reassurance and help for a wounded self-esteem. Exposure to successful outcomes in small, successive steps can help overcome the fear of failure and the unknown. Assisting such people in decreasing anxiety related to change can be accomplished by helping them examine their fears.

• Those who resist change because they fear a loss of control see change as a threat to their ability to control the environment around them. For them, loss of control leads to a feeling that life is much more difficult. They need help in seeing that life is more than black and white, on or off- that there are many in betweens instead of only extremes.

Change does not mean moving from one extreme to another, but instead, moving along the continuum between the two. Change does not mean giving up control, but does not mean considering new possibilities. The underlying anxiety existing in people with a high need for control often signals a need for counseling.

• Oppositional individuals resist change because they detest taking direction. They are easily threatened by authority figures and detest compliance. Unfortunately, their resistance to change often takes the form of a passive aggressive resistance, which is difficult to detect.

These individuals need help seeing the personal benefits of change. It is often beneficial if such people have a part in making the decision to change or are given some power to effect the change.

• The unmotivated individual often lacks energy and may be described as lazy. Not willing to recognize the rewards that change can bring, their goals and vision often don’t match those around them; therefore, change is not seen as necessary. They need the carrot on the stick that will motivate them to value change. They need help bringing their goals into focus.

• The tunnel-visioned individual has been taught that change in not desirable, but rigid routine is. They feel change may rock the boat and cause additional work. Routine for them isn’t boring; it’s simply less complicated.

Increasing their willingness to explore new options and decreasing their perception that change is risky can help them overcome their difficulty. Encouraging them to gradually introduce change into their routines and to spend more time with “risk takers” who are successful and happy may give them a different perspective.

Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright © 1993