The Trick To Strong Change Management - Spotting the Passive Resistors

You might think that the overt and active resistors are a pain, but at least they are being upfront and (generally) honest about their reticence to new ideas. The ones you should really worry about are the passive, covert agents of resistance to change.

I have written on several occasions on the challenges of change management associated with changes in corporate direction, such as those that come from deciding to enter a new market or launch a new business or line of business. These types of initiatives are at the heart of corporate entrepreneurship where achieving success requires skillful change management.

In the book Winning at Intrapreneurship I dedicate chapter 5, The Long-Term Benefits of Skillful Change Management, to this very issue. I discuss several aspects of this all too common phenomena and provide tools on how to address it most effectively. What intrapreneurs and other change agents must keep in mind is that there are two very distinct camps in the resistance-to-change army.

Camp 1. The Active Resistors. These individual will formally demonstrate their apprehension to the new idea. They might scream and shout but at least you know who they are and why they are resisting. They might send you emails, ask questions in meetings, and voice their objections in a number of ways.

Camp 2. The Passive Resistors. These individuals are more cunning in their approach to resistance. Their tools will include the use of ridicule behind your back, or of making jokes about the new idea, being inattentive in meetings, not showing up for training, and can go all the way to straight apathy and lack of follow through. They are generally the non-committal individuals in your group.

Over the years, I have found dealing with camp 1 much easier than camp 2. The rule of thumb I always use is that organizations don't resist change; people resistance change. So, make sure you know who your key influencers are and in which camp they fall. You must expose any influential resistor in camp 2 so you can deal with their resistance in a proactive and objective manner and, in doing so, limit their powers to influence others.