Be The Catalyst for Change:
Leading Yourself & Others from Resistance and Reluctance to Radical Renewal.
It’s funny (not haha funny) that we know we have areas where we could probably stand to change, but somehow it’s really, really hard and not really that urgent. We all desire to influence others for the better. Isn’t it funny that you know someone else who needs to change? You even know how they need to change, when (now), and that it should be relatively simple, especially if they follow your plan? I love grappling mentally with one of my best friends, Kelly. Recently, we’ve been rassling with the concept of trying to change others. For instance, I think you would agree that my life would be so much simpler and better if people around me changed.
My son James, one of the newest Marines on the scene, has likely changed radically in the last 77 days. How did the US Marine Corps achieve more change in 77 days than his mother did in 18 years of his life? To be clear, he entered the corps as a pretty outstanding humanoid. That said, there were some areas where his mother needed assistance.
If there is an unspoken interpersonal request I hear about more than any other in counseling and in life, it can be encapsulated in the phrase, “Please change!” We might beg, cajole, threaten, or bribe. Yet, people just aren’t buying it. What gives? Resistance to change is a natural human reaction to alterations in established routines, processes, environments, or ways of being. It can manifest in various ways, from subtle reluctance to overt opposition, and is a significant factor in the success or failure of personal growth and organizational change initiatives. Understanding the underlying causes of this resistance is crucial for effective change management.
Several factors contribute to individuals’ and organizations’ resistance to change. A 2023 academic journal article titled ‘Reasons for resistance to change in nursing: an integrative review’ broadly categorized these factors into:
- individual,
- interpersonal, and
- organizational factors.
This week let’s explore these categories and aim to grow in our capacity to lead ourselves and others from resistance and reluctance to radical transformation.
CTA:
Reflect on who has tried to change you (current or past).
- How do/did you feel about that?
- How effective are/were they?
- What were they trying to change?
- Are you familiar with Change Science or Change Management?
I seem to be the one calling for change of others more than others asking me to change. I believe that my recent changes have come at the request of my Heavenly Father. When he asks I am so willing.
I have been asked to let go of trying to change others. To stop judging others. To stop drinking. To stop needing to have an opinion.
Not all at once but over the course of years. So thankful for change and good friends willing to wrestle it through with me.
There’s a fine line between boundaries and control. We can make gentle demands regarding behavior we will choose to engage with in those we love. God loves us as we are AND does not leave us there, because our old ways can be destructive. I love the list of changes He has clearly made in you. They are physical and spiritual in nature and speak to a deep plowing that He is doing in your heart. I thoroughly enjoy wrestling it through with you! Thanks for the comment.