How to Cope with Resistance

Every time you decide to move forward, resistance has the tendency to try to become your best friend. Whether you’re launching a new product or guiding a client through uncharted waters, there will always be resistance where things are unknown.

I always get inspired reading the accounts of explorers who have set out with goal, a make-shift map, and determination. There ability to cope with resistance should be proof that if they can do it, why can’t we.

The biggest fear that people and clients have when attempting to do anything new, is the fear that it may not work. Most conversations are filled with “why” and “what if.” No one wants to take the fall if things don’t pan out. Which means, at the end of the day it’s easier to not do anything than it is to “kick ass.”

Here are few solutions to help you deal with resistance.

1. Expect it
If you know it’s coming you’ll be prepared to deal with all the fatalist conversations.

2. Keep the goal in front of you.
Often times great projects are abandoned because teams lose sight of the goal. They get caught up in all the details and forget what the final destination looks like.

3. Develop your own map
Know what the process looks like and be able to communicate the process from visualization to completion.

4. Know what success looks like.
If you have a clear idea of your goals and the process to get there, you should be able to define what success looks like, as well as the steps on how to get there.

5. Control your emotions
Huge projects are abandoned because negative emotions sabotage the process. Leaders have the capability in the middle of resistance, to speak and guide with confidence and move the project forward.

Resistance always can be a great indicator that your moving in the right direction. Great ideas, history-making voyages are always launched with great resistance. Do you think your ideas will be exempt?

How do you deal with resistance? What keeps you moving forward?

image credit: JohnGreyTurner

Tagged as: Business, Business Philosophy