Harvard ManageMentor

Addressing Reactions to Change

Harvard ManageMentor: Addressing Reactions to Change

Discussion Topics
What are the reactions to the change?
How should we address the reactions to the change?
Are we ready for change?

Copyright 2010 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing is an affiliate of Harvard Business School.

Harvard ManageMentor: Addressing Reactions to Change

What Are the Reactions to the Change?

1. What comments have you heard, or behaviors have you
seen, that indicate some people are supportive of the
change initiative?
2. What comments have you heard, or behaviors have you
seen, that indicate some people are resistant to the change
initiative?
3. What do you think are the underlying motivations for these
reactions?

Copyright 2010 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing is an affiliate of Harvard Business School.

Harvard ManageMentor: Addressing Reactions to Change

How should we address the reactions to

change?
There are certain steps you can take to address your
employees reactions to change:
Encouraging people to openly express their thoughts and
feelings about the change.
Listening carefully.
Treat resistance as a problem to solve, not as a character
flaw.
Once you understand the nature of their concerns, bring
people together to discuss and deal with the perceived
problems.
What are some specific ways that would help individuals
on your team?
Copyright 2010 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing is an affiliate of Harvard Business School.

Harvard ManageMentor: Addressing Reactions to Change

Are We Ready for Change?

There are certain steps you can take to help your team and
organization become change-ready:
Encourage participative work within your unit.
Give your employees a voice.
Drive fear out of your group.
Which one of these steps in particular could really improve
our groups readiness for change?
How can we implement the step in our group?

Copyright 2010 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing is an affiliate of Harvard Business School.

Harvard ManageMentor: Addressing Reactions to Change

Next Steps
Reflect and act on the ideas
discussed today for
addressing reactions to
change and preparing your
team for change.
Consider using the
Worksheet for Addressing
Resistance to Change to
identify opportunities to
engage your team about our
change initiatives.

Copyright 2010 Harvard Business School Publishing. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing is an affiliate of Harvard Business School.