2 Big Reasons Our Brains Resist Organizational Change

Surprise! Our Brains are Built to Resist Organizational Change
Our brains resist organizational change mainly because change — of any kind — is at odds with the status quo.  You know, the comfortable patterns that we have assimilated to and come to master.  Organizational psychologists have taught us that we should expect workers to balk at major change at first.

Fear of the Unknown
We know from change management simulation data that employees are likely to “fear” the unknown whenever they are not certain of where they fit into the new picture (or if there is a place for them at all).  Additionally, employees may doubt the ability of leadership to effect the new change and often prefer the current situation where they know what to expect and how to be successful.

Steps to Manage Change
To help us succeed at the process of organizational change, change management consulting experts outline steps to follow that are most likely to win employees over and encourage their commitment to the desired behaviors and goals. They rightfully recommend to ensure clear and frequent communication to explain why the change is necessary, the urgency of the change, to fill in the blanks of how the change will be implemented, to describe how it will affect each employee, and to inspire with the overall vision for change.

Two Big Reasons Our Brains Resist Organizational Change
Recently, however, psychologists who focus on how neuroscience explains organizational behavior have joined the discussion. They shed additional light on why we naturally resist change. Our brains are actually designed to fight change for two reasons:

1. Brains Are Essentially Lazy
   Brains prefer the tried and true routines. That’s why changing habits is so difficult. Our brains compare the new way with the old way and find the old way far easier because the patterns have already been learned and are familiar.

   Think about how easy your commute has become. You barely have to think about the route or even the mechanics of driving the car. But when you need to rent an unfamiliar car and drive in unknown territory, it requires a lot more energy to focus and get you safely and efficiently to your destination.

2. Brains Naturally Respond to Change with Fear
   In her work on positivity, Barbara Frederickson at the University of North Carolina, found that positive emotions broaden one’s perspective and encourage building new skills; but negative emotions do just the opposite. Our thinking is constrained and decisions become difficult to make.

Two Big Steps to Alleviate These Change Resistant Brain Reactions
Here are two foundational suggestions from change management training and consulting experts to help the brain feel better about change:

1. Get Crystal Clear
   Strategic clarity is the critical first step.  Be crystal clear about why the change is needed and give employees as much information as possible. The less their brains have to work to understand the rationale for change or to figure out where they fit in the change process the better.

   Brains struggle with uncertainty. Give them a break and answer all the employee change management questions as best you can. Accurate and honest information will give them some sense of control.

2. Co-Design The Plan and Parts People Will Play
   Employees want to know the game plan for success and the specific part they are expected to play in making it happen. Recognize that you are asking brains to think in a new way. Actively involve stakeholders in creating the exact roles they will play in the new scenario so they can begin to think positively about the future and make necessary adjustments bit by bit.

   Be patient. Organizational change takes time and is often a bumpy road.

The Bottom Line
Change is necessary and often messy.  As a change leader, understand why brains resist organizational change.  Then ensure high levels of strategic clarity and active involvement in a plan that makes sense to everyone affected by change.

To learn more about successful organizational change, download How to Successfully Recognize and Reward Organizational Change