•    Costs. The financial investment involved (too much and too little). 
•    Trust. A lack trust in (or respect for) those who initiate change. 
•    Happy Already.  We are satisfied with the status quo.
•    Bad Experience.  We have had negative past experiences with change.
•    Threat. Our values, beliefs and assumptions are threatened by change.
•    It will potentially disrupt relationships that we value.
•    Good-bye to You.  The new paradigm may not require our specific set of competencies; i.e., good luck finding a new job.
•    No Way Jose. We disagree with the change effort or fail to see a need for it.  It might just be an honest difference of opinion with respect to the best path forward.
•    Fear.  What lies on the other side?  Fear of the unknown is a huge distracter from making a change.
•    Just because.  I just want to do the minimum (before I retire) in the next year or so.  Why do I want to stir things up now (on my way out)?

For everyone who has ever sat in a place of reckoning, change can be the ultimate challenge.  Understanding your team's reasons for resistance fuels your ability to motivate your team to a successful change and/or confront them to get them on-board with the change.  You may have the best new technology and processes, but without your team, how successful will you be?

What unique ways have you managed resistance to change?  How have you best navigated change management?

One Toolbar, One Simple Location!

The free Tax Professional Toolbar puts the tax world in your browser so you will always: Know the latest in tax news from sources like CCH, Deloitte and the IRS.
Receive alerts from industry leaders.
Learn the best in tax-related tips and tricks.