Why we resist change: 12 drivers, one new tool

Almost every meaningful change asks something of people, and resistance is a predictable part of that process. New research from Radboud University, led by communication scientist Marieke Fransen, takes a more useful view: rather than treating resistance as a single obstacle, it breaks it down. Fransen and her colleagues identified 12 distinct drivers of resistance and introduced a new measurement tool to help identify them.

For leaders, HR teams and anyone leading a reorganization or a shift in how teams communicate, this matters. If a change stalls, the real question may not be how to push harder, but which of these drivers is actually at play. Diagnosing the cause first can make the difference between a change that is accepted and one that quietly never happens.

Where have you seen resistance to change come from in your own workplace?