Skip to main content

Why your employees might be resistant to change

Source: Freedigitalphotos.net

Implementing changes in a business could be very difficult but even more if employees are not in favour of the changes.  By knowing why employees might be resistant to change, effective communication strategies and media could be developed in advance to overcome any obstacles and to adequately  inform employees about the changes (also read my post on how to communicate changes).

Here are the five most common reasons why employees might resist the changes you want to implement in your business:


  • Employees do not really see or understand the need for any changes.
  • Fear of management changing the status quo.
  • Reluctance to work with other colleagues or in different teams.
  • Employees not willing to take on more responsibilities.
  • Employees might fear retrenchments, early retirement or other issues that might threaten their long-term security in the business.
Honest and open communication play a crucial role in implementing changes in the business. Employees need to receive detailed information about how changes will affect their position in the business.  As a manager you need to discourage any rumours which might make employees even more resistant to change. Also allow enough time for your employees to become used  to and prepare for the changes.  In addition allow for enough feedback opportunities and also listen to your employees' concerns or any other suggestions.  Employees must trust you and accept the changes as being the best for the business.  The biggest mistake any manager could make is to withhold any important information related to the intended change.


Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

The role of the manager in effective business communication

Happy employees are more productive. Business communication is no longer about how to write a letter, email or use effective writing skills.  It has also extended to other areas in the business, for example, excellent relationships within the business. A manager should not only concentrate on successful communication with its external clients, customers and stakeholders.  The employees of the business actually are   internal clients   and should also be treated with care.  Many scholars refer to this as   internal marketing , a very important feature of good business communication.  Employees’ well-being and work satisfaction play a large role in their productivity and how loyal they will be towards the business.  The role of the manager is to ensure good relationships with and among employees.   A healthy working environment is equally important.  Previous research has indicated that employees also have other career as...
Read more

Time for a communication audit?

When is the right time to do a communication audit in a business?  Why is it important to know whether communication in a business is effective or not? During a communication audit the strength and weaknesses of all communication in the business is analyzed, namely its communication policies, strategies, practices, messages, capabilities and even the media that are used, including social and other online media. If you have read some of my other postings in this blog, you will know how important communication in a business is.  Lack of effective communication can even cause the business to eventually fail. When is the right time to do a communication audit?  You could consider a communication audit in your business when: a major restructuring of the business is taking place   the business seems to be failing and not reaching its objectives. union negotiations are upcoming a merger or acquisition of another business might be happening a new management ...
Read more

What is your managerial communication style?

As a manager you communicate in a specific manner to your employees.  Your communication style can fall within different managerial approaches but in this article I will focus on the two most common styles, namely the classical and humanistic managerial communication styles.  I will first explain the more formal classical style. A manager who has a classical managerial (authoritarian) communication style: communicates through formal communication media such as oral and/or written and visual communication and very little face to face discussions. creates but also uses opportunities to make the long and short term goals of the business clear using these formal communication media. changes 'unacceptable’ attitudes and opinions by shaping new ones through manipulation. diminishes fear and suspicion because of misinformation or misinterpretation of the right but unclear information. communicates numerous rules to employees. prevents or corrects misunderstanding fr...
Read more