People don't even want to change their coffee order at the café in the morning, let alone the technology they've used every day for years. You want to improve productivity through new technology, such as a new customer relationship management system or digital copiers, but don't let yourself get distracted by the shiny data sheet in front of you.
You need to consider the people who are going to use these solutions on a daily basis. They don't care about the technical specifications of what you're bringing in, and they're going to dig their heels in if you don't have a plan ahead of time.
"Deal with it; it's here to stay" is not a good attitude for handling employee resistance to change. You're trying to alter long-held habits, and it's going to take more than telling everyone about a new system.
So why do people resist change? The Harvard Business Review points out the most common causes, including:
- Uncertainty
- Lack of control
- Too many shifts in a short period
- Potential for increased workloads
