Here's how you can foster a growth mindset and conquer resistance to change among your team members.
Navigating through the ever-changing landscape of business requires adaptability and a growth mindset, especially when leading a team. Resistance to change is a common obstacle, but with the right approach, you can guide your team members to embrace change and thrive. Understanding the nuances of change management and the psychology behind it can empower you to foster a culture of continuous improvement and resilience.
To conquer resistance to change, it's crucial to first embrace it yourself. Demonstrate a positive attitude towards change and the benefits it brings. Share success stories of adaptability and growth, highlighting the opportunities that come with change. Your enthusiasm can be contagious, helping to shift the mindset of your team members from fear to curiosity and excitement about the possibilities ahead.
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Jay Richards
CEO Imagen Insights | Discover what Gen Z are thinking in minutes
We must always show the vision, change is much easier to embrace when we have a vision about the positive results on the other side of that change. Change is hard to swallow if it's change for change sake.
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Ranjith Sundarrajan
Director, Software Engineering @ Lowe's India
A constant companion, experiences and lessons learned, shows how a growth mindset and intent to adapt and evolve be instrumental to growth. A familiar path can sound safe and predictable, but a conscious decision to step out of comfort zone and embrace the opportunities change presents allows to cultivate resilience, adaptability, and growth. Instead of fearing change, look at it as a gateway to new experiences and fresh perspectives. Change brings with it a possibility of failure , a valuable teacher on the path of personal growth, reframing failure as a stepping stone will lead to invaluable lessons, embracing change as an opportunity, tackling challenges, and learning from failure holds the key to self-discovery and new experiences.
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Ali Farahani ✪
✪ CIO Strategic PMO | Former CIO | CTO ✪ Certified Executive Coach | ICF PCC | Certified Positive Intelligence Trainer | Public Speaker | Author ✪ Top 1% Voice in Leadership & IT Management ✪ The Alchemist CIO
Well, just repeating the mantra "Embrace change" won't change the underlying impediments to change. "Essentially, fear and the need for safety are at the core of human resistance to change. To dispel the fear and make any Change possible, a leader must create a safe environment where all the voices are heard, even those hesitant to change." #TheAlchemistCIO Don't limit yourself to empty, motivational sentences. Instead, equip yourself with science-based tools. These tools, such as positive psychology, performance science, neurosciences, and cognitive behavioral psychology, can help you develop an effective understanding of human needs and behaviors and employ techniques to help others rewire their brain's neuropathways resisting change.
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Jayakumar Sundararaj
A servant leader, hands-on engineer, loves to help people.
Want to foster a growth mindset in your team? Embrace change! Resistance is futile. Lead by example and show them how adaptation fuels success. Keep pushing forward, and your team will follow.
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Gabrielle Gay
LinkedIn Top Voice for Leadership💡The #1 Caribbean Education Futurist reaching 10 Million+ globally in Law Literacy and STEM. Founder of The Erline Bradshaw Foundation. Speaker. Consultant. Influencer
Fostering a growth mindset and conquering resistance to change among team members requires a thoughtful and supportive approach. Start by encouraging a culture of continuous learning and improvement. Celebrate effort, resilience, and learning from mistakes, rather than just success. Provide regular feedback and constructive criticism in a positive manner to help team members see challenges as opportunities for growth. Offer training and resources to build confidence and competence. Lead by example, showing adaptability and openness to new ideas. Lastly, reward progress to motivate a growth-oriented mindset.By creating a supportive environment, you can help your team embrace change and develop a growth mindset, enhancing their performance.
Clearly communicate the vision and purpose behind the change. People are more likely to support a change if they understand the 'why' and 'how' it contributes to the bigger picture. Articulate the goals and expected outcomes, and ensure that everyone on your team understands their role in the process. This clarity can reduce uncertainty and build trust in your leadership.
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Piyali Kundu
Unit Head- HR|| United Breweries Ltd (a Heineken group company)|Ex-Fresenius Kabi | Ex-Hindustan Unilever Ltd| PGCHCL-XLRI, Jamshedpur | M.SC(Economics)-Calcutta University
Create a forum for seeking innovative ideas from each level of employees irrespective of any specific aspect. Expert team’s evaluation, feedback sharing and recognition makes employees feel valued and they become part of change process.
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Jessica Chan
Managing Director at Metalcool Pte Ltd | Driving Business Growth
You can’t chart a way forward if you don’t know where you’re going! It’s an obvious step, but the most challenging. As a leader, your job is to make tangible milestones and goals. Otherwise you’ll find that you’re blind, leading the blind!
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Kiasha Chetty (LLM), Cum Laudé,
Admitted Attorney 💼 Legal Advisory & Regulatory Compliance | Risk Mitigation | Commercial & Employment Law | Employment Relations ✔️Certified Senior Professional-Institute of People Management (IPM) ✔️Member, SASLAW
Craft a compelling, concise vision statement that encapsulates the organisation’s long-term goals and core values. This vision should be aspirational yet attainable, providing clear direction and purpose. Communicate this vision consistently across all levels of the organisation, ensuring every team member understands their role in achieving it. Align individual and team objectives with the overarching vision to foster a sense of collective purpose. Empower your team by involving them in the vision-setting process, encouraging input and feedback. Regularly revisit and refine the vision to stay responsive to changes. A well-defined vision is not merely a guiding star; it is the foundation for future success.
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Sahil Deswal
Chief Growth & Marketing Officer @ Bobble AI | Ex-CMO @ Augnito | Trell | Times Internet | Bigbasket | Top 35 Growth Visionaries 2024 (Indian Startup Times) | Most Influential Global Marketing Leader 2022-23 (CMO Asia)
To effectively communicate the vision and purpose behind a change, it's crucial to adopt a structured approach that emphasizes transparency, engagement, and clarity. Explain the purpose and rationale behind the change by contextualizing it with external and internal factors, and highlight the benefits and opportunities it will bring. Articulate specific goals and expected outcomes to define what success looks like, and ensure everyone understands their role in the process by clearly defining responsibilities and empowering team members. Maintain open lines of communication by providing regular updates on progress, encouraging feedback, and addressing concerns.
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Ashib Abdulla⚓🇮🇳
¦ #CdrWhiteKnight ¦ Human Resources ¦ Logistics ¦ Supply Chain ¦ Operations ¦
Communication is Key to Change Success ... Clear communication is the foundation for successful change... by sharing the vision, purpose, and goals, we can build trust and get everyone on board... Articulating each team member's role fosters a sense of ownership and empowers them to contribute to the bigger picture... One need to communicate effectively and navigate change together!!! #communication #leadership #changecommunication #CdrWhiteKnight
Equip your team with the tools and resources they need to adapt to change effectively. This could include training, mentorship, or access to new technologies. When team members feel prepared and supported, they are more likely to approach change with a growth mindset and less resistance. Providing these tools also demonstrates your investment in their development and success.
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Sahil Deswal
Chief Growth & Marketing Officer @ Bobble AI | Ex-CMO @ Augnito | Trell | Times Internet | Bigbasket | Top 35 Growth Visionaries 2024 (Indian Startup Times) | Most Influential Global Marketing Leader 2022-23 (CMO Asia)
Its important to enable the team to explore tools, platforms and processes to improve their outcomes since they are the closest to the ground truth. As a leader, one can review the upside of such enablement and approve pilots at a small scale to allow the team to showcase the benefits of new technologies, generative AI being a prime example of the above.
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Alexandre Ferraz Amaral Arouche Toledo
CFO | Head of finance | Managing Director
No contexto de promover uma mentalidade de crescimento e superar a resistência à mudança, fornecer ferramentas adequadas desempenha um papel crucial. Essas ferramentas podem incluir recursos digitais, plataformas de e-learning e ferramentas de gestão de projetos, que capacitam os membros da equipe a acessar informações relevantes, colaborar de forma eficaz e gerenciar o progresso de suas iniciativas. Ao disponibilizar essas ferramentas, a organização demonstra seu compromisso com o desenvolvimento profissional contínuo e capacita os colaboradores a enfrentar desafios com confiança e eficiência.
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Randal 'Tiny' Smith BEM MSc BEng (Hons) CEng FRAeS FInstLM
Group Chief Technical Officer (CTO) - Curve360 & Project EV | EV, EV Charging and Battery Expert and Speaker
By involving your team in implementing the change, they will get a feeling of responsibility and trust, and in turn that helps to ensure that the change is successfully adopted. Involving the team also collectively helps to identify and training, resource and knowledge gaps that may be required to either implement the change, or will be needed once the change has been embedded. The team members will have different experiences and viewpoints, and since the change will impact them, they will know what training, tools, resources etc that they will need. So it becomes a case of you as the leader, working with the team to make the change as easy as possible.
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Ashib Abdulla⚓🇮🇳
¦ #CdrWhiteKnight ¦ Human Resources ¦ Logistics ¦ Supply Chain ¦ Operations ¦
#leadership #changemanagement #teamdevelopment #CdrWhiteKnight Equipping your team with the resources they need to adapt is key... training, mentorship, or new technologies can foster a growth mindset and reduce resistance... By investing in their development, you demonstrate your commitment to their success and empower them to navigate change effectively... Let's champion their growth together!!!
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Abrar Siddiqui
Director @ EPAM Systems | Digital Transformation | Gen AI | Fintech | Strategy | Cybersecurity | Engineering | Ex- IBM | Ex- Accenture | Ex- CTO | LinkedIn Top Voices
Equipping your team with the right tools and resources is essential. In my experience, providing comprehensive training and ongoing mentorship has significantly reduced resistance to change. When team members feel prepared and supported, they approach change with confidence and a growth mindset, knowing their development is a priority.
Create an open environment where feedback is encouraged and valued. Listen to your team's concerns and suggestions regarding the change. This not only helps in identifying potential issues early on but also makes your team feel heard and respected. Their input can lead to improvements in the change process, fostering a sense of ownership and commitment.
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Simon T. Bailey
World's Leading Expert on Brilliance | Board Member | Founder of BrilliantU™ | 4X Dad & G-Pop | Rare Stamp Collector | Pickleball Novice | Gospel Music Enthusiast
Creating an open environment where feedback is encouraged and valued is indeed crucial for successful change management. Listening to your team's concerns and suggestions can significantly enhance the process. However, I'd like to add another layer to this approach: proactive engagement. Instead of waiting for feedback to be given, actively seek it out. Regularly scheduled check-ins and anonymous surveys can help capture honest opinions that might not surface in open forums. Additionally, consider implementing a system where team members can see how their feedback has been used to make tangible changes. This transparency can build trust and demonstrate that their input is not only heard but acted upon.
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Sahil Deswal
Chief Growth & Marketing Officer @ Bobble AI | Ex-CMO @ Augnito | Trell | Times Internet | Bigbasket | Top 35 Growth Visionaries 2024 (Indian Startup Times) | Most Influential Global Marketing Leader 2022-23 (CMO Asia)
Active listening is the key to cracking feedback. There's always a real truth behind the truth and it is the leaders job to uncover this - can only happen when you are connected with the team and are checking in on their work, collaborations and blockages. Getting a 360 feedback helps understand the perspective and appropriate remedies.
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Kiasha Chetty (LLM), Cum Laudé,
Admitted Attorney 💼 Legal Advisory & Regulatory Compliance | Risk Mitigation | Commercial & Employment Law | Employment Relations ✔️Certified Senior Professional-Institute of People Management (IPM) ✔️Member, SASLAW
Create a culture where open communication is valued and team members feel safe sharing their thoughts. Implement regular feedback sessions and anonymous surveys to gather diverse perspectives. Actively listen to the feedback provided and acknowledge contributions, showing that their input is taken seriously. Use the insights gained to make informed decisions and implement necessary changes. Provide updates on how feedback has been acted upon, reinforcing the importance of their voices. By encouraging feedback, you not only identify areas for improvement but also empower your team to be active participants in the organisation’s growth.
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Darshan Chavan
Featured in FORBES |TEDx Speaker | Founder | 66th "Fastest Growing" Startup in Australia in 2022 | 40 Under 40|Bio-Hacker
Conquer resistance to change by communicating the benefits of growth and innovation. Create a supportive environment where team members feel empowered to take risks and explore new ideas. Provide training and development opportunities to enhance skills and adaptability. Encourage collaboration and celebrate successes along the way.
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Dr. Kamlesh Misra
Chief Economic Advisor at Economic Council of India. Former Vice Chancellor: Auro University, Sushant University, Rishihood University.
We have to remember that change is a difficult process through which everyone has to go through and it does create unexpected level of uncertainty. In a leadership role its important that we keep the doors open for communication feedback. Your team must feel wanted and they must feel that their ideas are respected. When we engage with them and make collective decision they feel protected during the period of uncertainty. We must encourage everyone to speak their mind and ensure that they are encouraged to do so.
Recognize and reward the efforts of those who embrace change and contribute positively to the transition. This recognition can take many forms, from verbal praise to career advancement opportunities. Celebrating these achievements reinforces a growth mindset and shows that adaptability is not just expected but appreciated and rewarded.
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Ines Olama
HR Consultant (on Assignment) and Country Talent Acquisition Lead | xVodafone | Linkedin Top Leadership Voice
The culture of reward and celebrating success always has a positive impact on the engagement of employees and makes them feel valued/appreciated by their organization. It’s essential to keep employees excited and motivated about what they do and to feel its importance and how it contributes to the overall success of the organization.
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Dr. Kamlesh Misra
Chief Economic Advisor at Economic Council of India. Former Vice Chancellor: Auro University, Sushant University, Rishihood University.
Uncertainty is a general outcome of organizational change. Some of the team members may be asked to leave, some may leave on their own and some will hang on with the organization. Who falls in which group is s matter of their risk taking ability. It is important that those that remain within the organization and embrace the change process as a challenge should be protected and put in strategic positions depending on their abilities.
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Shivangi Jajoo
🏅11x Linkedin Community Top Voice | 150K+ Impressions | Top 1% quality contributors (Web content writing) | Passionate about Cricket | Content Writer | Dancer | Delhi University | St. Stephens | CA Finalist
Acknowledge and honour people who welcome change and make valuable contributions to the shift. Opportunities for career progress and verbal appreciation are just two ways in which this recognition can manifest. Honouring these accomplishments promotes a growth mentality and demonstrates that flexibility is valued and rewarded in addition to being expected.
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Kiasha Chetty (LLM), Cum Laudé,
Admitted Attorney 💼 Legal Advisory & Regulatory Compliance | Risk Mitigation | Commercial & Employment Law | Employment Relations ✔️Certified Senior Professional-Institute of People Management (IPM) ✔️Member, SASLAW
Establish a rewards system that acknowledges both individual and team achievements, including bonuses, public recognition, added responsibilities, or professional development opportunities. Ensure criteria for rewards are transparent and consistently applied, creating a fair and motivating environment. Tailor rewards to individual preferences, making them more meaningful. Celebrate successes publicly to boost morale and reinforce positive behaviours. Regularly review and update the rewards system to keep it relevant. Rewarding efforts boosts morale and cultivates a culture of excellence and commitment within your team.
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Diem Nguyen
Freelance Expert: IT, Operations, Start-Up Consulting, Mentor. Logistics, Automation, Ecommerce, Retail for Exhibitions. #Consultant #Mentor #Logistics #Ecommerce
Recognizing and rewarding efforts is a powerful way to reinforce a growth mindset within your team. In my outsourcing business, I make it a point to celebrate those who embrace change and contribute positively to transitions. For instance, during our shift to a new project management system, I highlighted team members who adapted quickly and helped others with the transition. This recognition came through verbal praise in meetings and opportunities for career advancement. By celebrating these achievements, I show that adaptability is not just expected but truly valued and rewarded, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and engagement.
Finally, take time to reflect on the changes made with your team. Discuss what worked well and what could be improved for future transitions. Reflection is a powerful tool for learning and growth, and it can strengthen your team's resilience and adaptability. It also reinforces the idea that change is a continuous journey, not just a one-time event.
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Dr. Kamlesh Misra
Chief Economic Advisor at Economic Council of India. Former Vice Chancellor: Auro University, Sushant University, Rishihood University.
In my experience I have found that when building a leadership team, it is important that we keep an open mind, be a great listener and communicator. As a leader if you feel that you are the only person who has the ideas and you want everyone in the team to do things your way then you need good clerical staff not thinking minds.
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Karishma Khemani
Founder & CEO - Heuristics Pharma | Featured by Economic Times, ET Now, Hindustan Times, Mid-Day, India Times | Most Inspiring Health Entrepreneur 2022 | Future Leader 2023 | LinkedIn Top Voice
The best way to encourage a growth mindset is enabling your team to see challenges as chances to grow and learn. Help them build resilience and show them how it is a major differentiator in this competitive world.
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Agnani Deb
Business Head of Beyond Average Educational Research Pvt. Ltd.
The first step in working with the team is for everybody to agree on the same goal. So, after adopting the change, everybody needs to reflect together and determine whether the process works or not. It might or might not work, but everybody should agree on the purpose and utility of the change. Reflecting on the process and getting feedback is part of change management. The team can learn from mistakes and improve in the future.
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Dr Kislay Panday
Solicitor at Supreme Court of India | Author | Theologist
Listen to your team’s concerns about changes. Understand their perspectives and address fears or misconceptions. Involve Them in the Process: Engage your team in the change process by seeking their input and involving them in planning. This reduces resistance and fosters ownership.
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Edoardo Fusco Femiano
Reflecting together is one of the hardest routine to implement in a team. It requires: - a dedicated time slot - team isolation from external activities - a self-improving mentality More than anything: it requires a relentless dedication in improving personally and has a team. It doesn't come naturally overnight: it is an habit based on a personal and collective effort toward constant development. At a collective level is harder, as you have to find a way to reflect together in an inclusive way, so that everyone has a chance to feel part of the process.
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Ali Farahani ✪
✪ CIO Strategic PMO | Former CIO | CTO ✪ Certified Executive Coach | ICF PCC | Certified Positive Intelligence Trainer | Public Speaker | Author ✪ Top 1% Voice in Leadership & IT Management ✪ The Alchemist CIO
I'm sure you've heard a variation of this: "Our change initiatives fail because of the resistance and mindset of some people; unless they change, nothing changes." Do you agree with this sentiment? If yes, I have news for you: You, yourself, are "the" obstacle to change, not others. Let me explain: "The true obstacle to change isn't people's resistance or mindset but our lack of basic understanding of the human psyche." #TheAlchemistCIO At the heart of this issue lies a fundamental truth: we are wired to seek stability and predictability. This preference rooted is our evolutionary past, where predictability equaled survival. Understanding these psychological underpinnings is crucial for any leader aiming to drive meaningful change.
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Michael Houben
Empowering Engineering Teams through Knowledge Management & Leadership Development | Top Leadership Voice | Follow for posts on Engineering & Leadership
In my experience, to create an open-minded team ready for change, a leader must first demonstrate these traits themselves. A practical way is to run a workshop where the team suggests improvements in collaboration. So in the area the leader is responsible for! If the leader can handle this feedback without defensiveness and acts on it (e.g. through an improvement program), it shows their open-mindedness. This approach can be challenging, especially for leaders with large egos or those who wrongly think humility undermines their position. However, it's crucial for fostering an open-minded team, because it align with the basic principle of ‘Leading by Example’.
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Kumar Gaurav
Customer Success | CEO Verdantis
As leaders, it starts with us. Our ability to clearly articulate a vision and demonstrate how it will support our team's growth is crucial. People often resist change because they're uncertain about what lies ahead. By effectively communicating the benefits of the change and providing ample time for adjustment, we can significantly ease the transition. Clear communication and empathy can work wonders in fostering acceptance and growth
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Hamid Rab Nawaz
Results-Driven Business Growth Consultant | Empowered 400+ Brands in Revenue Expansion, Lead Generation, and Sales enhancement | 2 Million + orders managed
Model the behavior you want to see in your team by embracing change enthusiastically and adapting proactively. For instance, if a new software is being introduced, be the first to learn and use it. Share your experiences and challenges openly, showing that it's normal to encounter difficulties but persistence pays off. This hands-on approach not only demonstrates your commitment but also provides a real-life example for your team to follow, making the abstract concept of a growth mindset more tangible and achievable.
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J.D. Meier
High-Performance, Innovation & Leadership Coach | 25 years of Microsoft | Former head coach for CEO Satya Nadella’s innovation team | On a mission to upskill 1M+ leaders with better, faster innovation with AI.
Model the way: Here's what I used to think... here's what I think now and why. Or, I can see why you my see it that way. But what if... Use questions vs. assertions. Challenge people to be the kind of person that learns and grows. Identity habits go further, faster. Ultimately, at Microsoft, we learned you change behavior, by changing the language. So assert assumptions to create a culture of curiosity and experimentation. When people run into blocks, ask what are the assumptions holding you back? Or, even better, what would need to be true, in order to pull this off? Creating mental agility and flexibility by exploring ideas and challenging thinking will build the muscle it takes to conquer resistance.
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