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Change Management Insights & Resources
Article 6 – Resistance Is Not the Problem
05 Jan, 2026
Why We Misunderstand Resistance
Resistance is often treated like something to manage, minimize, or overcome. It shows up in risk logs, change impact assessments, and stakeholder engagement plans. Entire workshops are designed to “deal with” resistance.
But what if resistance isn’t the problem?
What if it’s the most honest signal we’re going to get?
The Real Reasons Behind Resistance
People resist for a reason. Sometimes those reasons are about comfort or fear. Other times, they’re about clarity, timing, trust, or relevance. In many cases, resistance is less about the change itself and more about how the change is being led.
But instead of listening, we label it.
We call it negativity. We call it dysfunction. We call it “lagging adoption.” And then we try to fix it with more comms, more training, more dashboards.
Resistance Is Data – Use It
Here’s the truth: Resistance is data. And data, when interpreted well, becomes insight.
A leader pushing back on messaging might be signaling that they don’t believe it. A team that’s slow to engage might be overwhelmed, unclear, or quietly undercutting a decision they weren’t part of. Silence in meetings might not be agreement - it might be disengagement dressed as politeness.
When we treat resistance as something to remove, we miss the opportunity to understand what it’s telling us.
Adoption Starts With Trust
This is especially true during adoption. By the time we’re rolling out a new tool, process, or strategy, most people have already formed an opinion - not just about the change, but about the leadership driving it.
If they don’t trust the messenger, they won’t trust the message. If they’ve seen other projects fail, they’ll wait this one out too. If they haven’t been part of the process, they won’t feel part of the outcome.
And none of that can be solved by re-sending the FAQ.
Making Space for Resistance
Organizations that navigate adoption well are the ones that make space for resistance. They anticipate it. They invite it early. They ask, “What’s getting in the way?” instead of assuming people are just being difficult. They respond with empathy, not defensiveness.
This doesn’t mean caving to every concern. It means listening before solving. It means treating resistance as a conversation starter, not a red flag. It means understanding that behind every form of resistance—delay, criticism, apathy, passive compliance—is a story worth hearing.
Your Turn
What’s the most insightful form of resistance you’ve encountered? What did it reveal that you hadn’t seen before?
Let’s unpack that.