Paradox on Change

As the famous saying goes, "everyone hates change". Yet, we have the old adage "variety is the spice of life". I contend that people really do like change -- but only if the change is towards the more pleasurable, of course. Humans have a constant yearning to learn and grow -- that really means that we inately desire change...change for the better. People only hate change if they cannot see that the change leads to something better -- better for them, as individuals. Hence, for those in change management, the challenge is really to highlight in no uncertain terms that the changes needed of employees lead to a change for the better at the individual level.

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Regina Jaslow said…
An addendum to when people enjoy change is because they want something different. For example, even if we love chocolate ice cream, we don't always get that flavor at the dessert shop because we simply want something different -- to change it up and try something new. That's another good angle to selling the idea of change to someone who may resist it.
7:28 PM
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