Guidelines for Addressing the Belief that the project (or action) will fail

Employee Alignment and Education (Communicating with Internal Stakeholders)

Addressing Resistance

One of the primary causes of resistance is the belief that action will fail.  

Consider the following strategies for addressing resistance based on the fear of failure:

• Ask for and listen to their concerns

• Discover if their facts and fears are accurate and complete

• Determine if their beliefs are based on accurate information—they could be based on rumors

• Provide additional information to correct mistaken or inaccurate beliefs

• Offer more accurate interpretations of facts, even if the truth hurts

• Ask for suggestions to help make the action feel more successful

• Ask how you can help them implement change

• Encourage them to focus on the positive while addressing the reality of your situation

• Ask for their support in making the action work and thank them for what they have already done

• Express confidence in their ability to implement action successfully.

• Ask how you can help them implement action

• Follow through on agreements reached to improve the situation

Templates:

• Checklist for Identifying Performance Problems

• Checklist for Diagnosing the Causes of Underperformance