Common Change Averse Mindsets

Signs of a Receiver
a. People wait for direction from others before moving forward
b. People escalate decisions, assuming that they are ‘beyond my pay grade’.
c. People accept decisions (even when they do not think they will work) to avoid
questioning the boss.

How to shift toward a Change Ready mindset?

i. Introduce a ‘no regret’ move that your team can take. Figure out an action that
you can take that is not only consistent with the change, but also valuable in the
short run.
ii. Encourage your team to generate possible solutions before they take any
problem to you.
iii. Encourage Back up any reservations you have about a decision with data or
perspectives that might not have been known or included during the original
discussion.
Common Change Averse Mindsets

Signs of a Resister
a. You mention reasons that something cannot be done based on precedent or history.
b. You agree to a stated commitment and find reasons not to execute on it later.
c. You poke holes in plans as a means of avoiding or stalling actions.

How to shift toward a Change Ready mindset?

i. Explore how the proposed action or solution is different from what has happened in the past. Be informed
by the past - but not captured by it.
ii. Raise your reservations at the appropriate time (team meetings, ideation sessions, or project planning.
Participate in the debate to get a better solution, see how the sausage is made, and then commit to the
decision (regardless whether it was your idea)
iii. Ask questions that improve or encourage the solution rather than shut it down. For example, try to avoid
asking things like: “How do you expect me to get all this done?” Instead, you ask “What are the one or two
most important ways I could help make this successful?”
Common Change Averse Mindsets

Signs of a Controller
a. You seek information that supports your own views or reservations.
b. You prefer getting detailed instructions on what to do instead of inquiring about what has been tried already
and generating a brand-new plan.
c. You discount obstacles raised by others to stick to the plan.

How to shift toward a Change Ready mindset?

i. You can bolster your own thinking and solution-generation by including people who do not think like you and
will give you candid input. Workshop your idea or solution with a diverse group of colleagues to gain
perspective and improve on the idea.
ii. When a colleague or team member comes to you for help, rather than just sharing your expertise or what
you would do in the situation, ask what they have already tried. Guide them to create their own solutions
and workarounds by being the thought partner.
iii. The question is not whether you will encounter obstacles, but how you will handle them when you do. Will
you learn, use those lessons to improve your idea or solution , and try again?