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Change is the only things that is constant then why people resist change?

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Question added by Adnan Khan , Manager Operations , National Bank of Pakistan
Date Posted: 2013/12/03
Zafar Iqbal
by Zafar Iqbal , Teacher (Pak Studies) Subject Specialist , Home Tutor

It is also natural, because people are afraid off change.

bassam sabbagh
by bassam sabbagh , المشرف و المسؤول الفنّيّ , مديريّة صحّة اللاذقيّة-شعبة اللايشمانيا و الصّحّة البيئيّة

Is human natureFear of the unknown and the new

Because it is human nature

It can be a change to the worst

Because it's new thing and dark

Mohammad Tohamy Hussein Hussein
by Mohammad Tohamy Hussein Hussein , Chief Executive Officer & ERP Architect , Egyptian Software Group

Mainly because they feel threatened some times because they perceive that the change will impact them negatively and most of the time because they don't understand the change and consequently can't assess its impact on them.

changes are the new creations in the world.

all of them want to adaptive with all type of changes, then only their attitude will get increment..

Muhammad Faheem
by Muhammad Faheem , Consultant- Accounts, Audit & Taxation , Basim Associates

Not everyone resists change, if the change is positive only those who dont like to come out from there comfort zone, get fear to face chanllenges and new opportunities/skills of learning and like to remain uncompetitive always resist change.   

Delia Lemos
by Delia Lemos , Health Care Support Worker , First City Nursing

  • What the specific changes include: In this case, the changes involved re-structuring the department, consolidating numerous positions, laying off several employees, cancelling one project, and putting several other projects on hold. No small changes, indeed!
  • Who the changes will impact: Mainly all of the department employees, but the changes could also impact other stakeholder groups, such as if any of the projects cancelled or put on hold include cross-functional team members from other departments.
  • How the changes will impact them: The biggest impact is to the employees being laid off, as there will be both emotional and financial impact. Employees whose jobs will change could also have emotional and financial implications, although to a lesser extent. Employees’ job tasks will change for those whose projects were put on hold or cancelled. Finally, there will be an emotional impact to everyone in the department, whether or not they are directly affected by the changes.  
  •  5 main reasons why people resist change:

    • Fear of the unknown/surprise: This type of resistance occurs mainly when change is implemented without warning the affected stakeholders before the change occurs. When change (especially what is perceived as negative change) is pushed onto people without giving them adequate warning and without helping them through the process of understanding what the change will include and how their jobs/work will be affected, it can cause people to push back against the change due to their fear of the unknown.
    • Mistrust: If the individuals in a department highly respect their manager because the manager has built up trust over a period of time, the team will be more accepting of any changes. If the manager is new and has not yet earned the trust of their employees (like my client), then mistrust can manifest itself into resistance to change.
    • Loss of job security/control: This type of resistance often occurs when companies announce they will be restructuring or downsizing. This causes fear among employees that they will lose their jobs or be moved into other positions without their input.
    • Bad timing: As the old saying goes, “Timing is everything”. Heaping too much change on employees over a short period of time can cause resistance. If change is not implemented at the right time or with the right level of tact or empathy, it usually won’t work.
    • An individual’s predisposition toward change: Differences exist in people’s overall tolerance for change. Some people enjoy change because it provides them with an opportunity to learn new things and grow personally and professionally. Others abhor change because they prefer a set routine – these are usually the people who become suspicious of change and are more likely to resist.

Shahzad Khan
by Shahzad Khan , Deputy Manager - Human Resources , The Searle Company Limited

People resist change because they don't want to be out or move from their comfort zone and to do so they have to have change their habit, routine or practise. This is the reason the organiztions or people who resist change are considerd as stagnant or not progressive.

Unless change is a result of a deliberate will and action then it is imposed and as all things imposed, it will automatically create resistance. This is not only human it is natural. 

As unavoidable and constant in nature that it is, Change implies that a comfort zone has to be modified and/or destroyed to make place for a new one.  It is normal to not know or understand what effects the change is going to make on the status quo and so people are normally vary about anything new coming their way, even if it is for the betterment of the organisation and themselves.

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