Re: Resistance to change LO590

jack w. patterson (vjwpa@calgary.chevron.com)
Wed, 29 Mar 95 08:30:51 MST

Replying to LO563 --

> Date: Mon, 27 Mar 1995 23:03:16 -0500
> From: Dmweston@aol.com
>
> A conversation with an internal info systems consultant at Hewlett-Packard
> about a year ago really shook my mental model about resistance to change.
> This person stated with equanimity: "There is no such thing as resistance
> to change." After confirming that I had heard him right, I asked how he
> came to that conclusion. He said, when I encounter resistance to an idea
> or approach that I am suggesting, I stop and think, What is it about this
> person's experience and his/her current situation that makes him or her
> react this way? What can I learn about this person's experience and
> situation such that I can frame a response to meet his or her perspective?

[...quote trimmed by your host...]
>
> There is no such thing as resistance to change... something to think
> about...
>
> Diane Weston
> DMWeston@AOL.COM
>
>

I would be careful with this one...There are some people who thrive on
knowing exactly what they will be doing at work today, tomorrow and for
the next 20 years. IMHO they are very resistant to change and experience
very high levels of stress no matter how one provides information or a
response to "help them see" the change from their perspective. This does
not mean that they will not accept change or go along with change...but it
is not their idea no matter how one frames the change.

Another type of person that I think about is my teenage daughter and how
stubborn we both can get when one of us has to change...

Jack

Jack W. Patterson
Chevron Canada Resources, Information Technology Services
In Transition
500 5th Avenue S. W. Calgary Alberta T2P-0L7 Canada
Phone (403)234-5850
Internet:
vjwpa@calgary.chevron.com

"It is by logic that we prove. It is by intuition that we discover."
- Henri Poincare