It Was Better Before. Much Better.
Erikson describes people denying their own resistance to change while readily seeing it in others. Within his personality-color framework, he recommends giving people he calls Greens time, detail, and small steps when introducing changes.
THE IDEA
“It Was Better Before. Much Better.”
When I’m talking about change, one of my favorite exercises is to ask everyone in the group who is afraid of change to stand up. Occasionally someone will stand up, but it’s more common that no one moves.
Why? Because we all understand that change is inevitable and necessary if we’re going to keep up with the world. Some people can admit that they dislike change, but this observation is only at an intellectual level. And so we all sit quietly in our seats pretending that there are no opponents to change to be found here. And besides, no one else is standing up.
After that, my second question is, “Who thinks that someone else in the group is afraid of change?” Suddenly the whole group stands up, and they look around quite amused. So who doesn’t like change? Answer: “Everyone else. And because those other people are the problem, I don’t need to do anything at all.”
The issue is widespread. The majority of the population has Green as its dominant quality. This is the main reason why we can’t accept change with open arms. Everything new is evil, and it should be strongly discouraged.
Rapid change is the most difficult to accept. The faster it is, the worse it is. So the faster the wheels of society spin, the more frantic all those opponents of change become. We see this all the time in news reports. Yellows and Reds devise constant change, Greens and Blues, who are in the majority, try to keep up. And the stress just increases.
Conclusion: If you want Greens to accept change, you’ll have to equip yourself with a good dollop of patience. Break down the process into small pieces and set aside a few weeks to persuade, win over, and spell out the particulars. You must describe the process in detail, and since no one is going to take any notes, you’ll have to go through it again, and again, and again until the message gets home.
The group must get the chance to feel its way to the only possible solution—change. Once that feeling has developed, you’re home free. But the road is long and complicated. You need to know exactly where you’re heading, and you need to remind yourself constantly why you are going through all this trouble. If you are Red, every day you’ll be seized by the urge to simply force your opinion on the group, but I hardly need to explain that you might as well shut the company down if you do that. It would spare everyone involved a great deal of time and suffering.
When to use it
Introducing a new software system in a company where long-time employees are comfortable with the old one.
Leading a team through a major organizational restructuring that requires shifting roles and responsibilities.
Implementing a new policy at a school that changes long-established routines for teachers and students.
Persuading a family member to adopt a healthier lifestyle when they are set in their ways.
FROM THEORY TO EVERYDAY LIFE
In practice
The Change Exercise
In a group, ask who is afraid of change. Few stand. Then ask who thinks someone else is afraid, and everyone stands. This reveals a common bias: attributing resistance to others while denying it in oneself.
Yellows and Reds vs. Greens and Blues
In Erikson’s color framework, Yellows and Reds tend to introduce changes while Greens and Blues prefer more continuity. He uses that contrast to argue for a slower, more detailed introduction of new initiatives.
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
Put it to work.
When a change is proposed, do you immediately look for reasons it won't work? How might that reflect your own resistance?
Think of a time you blamed others for being resistant to change. Could you have been equally resistant but in a different way?
If you are a 'Red' personality, how can you temper your urge to force change and instead guide others gradually?
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION
Source texts
- Surrounded By Idiots (Thomas Erikson)