Overcoming resistance isnโt about pushing through.
Jun 26, 2025Overcoming resistance isn’t about pushing through.
It’s about listening differently.
Here’s what I used to do:
When someone resisted change —
a co-worker, a parent, a team —
I explained it again.
But better.
I tried to show them the logic.
The research.
The results.
Spoiler: it didn’t work.
Because resistance isn’t usually about understanding.
It’s about feeling safe.
Feeling seen.
Feeling ready.
These days, I listen for the question behind the resistance.
Sometimes it sounds like:
→ “Will this make me irrelevant?”
→ “What if I try — and fail?”
→ “Are we actually in this together?”
When I hear that… I don’t push.
I sit next to it.
๐ก Because overcoming resistance is not a strategy.
It’s a relationship.
So if you're trying to lead change —
In your classroom. Your school. Your team —
Ask yourself:
๐ What’s the fear behind the no?
๐ What safety haven’t we built yet?
๐ What consistency can I offer — even if we’re still figuring it out?
Resistance isn’t the end of the road.
It’s a signal.
One that says:
“Slow down. This matters.”
