Change is hard. Trying new things engages a fear of the unknown that makes most people uncomfortable. It has been my job to help my faculty and students to work their way through their discomfort to a place where they can see the benefits of implementing new ideas and programs.
Here are a few of the ways that I have found success managing resistance to change.
- Celebrate small victories and honor each step they take towards trying something new. As a teacher in the trenches myself, I understand that what we think will work in theory doesn’t always work in practice.
- Empathize with the logistical difficulties of making change and help people to find ways to balance both sides.
- Understand that not all change is effective. I encourage faculty and students to question change as long as they do so thoughtfully.
Ultimately, I believe that if good pedagogy is at the core of the change, and there is enough support for new ideas, educators will move from resistance to acceptance over time. It is my job to help them through that process.
What strategies do you use to help people adapt and accept change?
