Understanding the Nature of Resistance
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Understanding the Nature of Resistance Presented by Alla Zollers @azollers
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Although its rarely stated directly, design as a profession is a consulting business. While we are responsible for producing work, we still seek final approval elsewhere. This fundamental understanding is important because our business, and ultimately the most difficult part of our job, is the business of influencing others. It is natural for us to think that if we present our designs clearly and logically, provide data to support our decisions, and truly have the client’s best interests at heart, that we will get the buy-in and support that we are seeking. We often believe this because we are not paying enough attention to the affective level of our interactions with others until we begin to run into resistance. Given that designers are agents of change, resistance is a predictable and natural part of our profession. The key to understanding resistance is to realize that is it an emotional reaction against the process of change, of being helped, or having to face up to difficult organizational problems.
Transcript of Understanding the Nature of Resistance
Understanding the Nature of Resistance Presented by Alla Zollers@azollers
Welcome to Therapy
We are all consultants
You can advice, recommend, influence
You can’t make anyone do what you want
You can advice, recommend, influenceAttend to feelings that are under the surface
Managing Resistance
Activity: Note down the name of a current or recent project where you faced resistance
Resistance is futile natural
Resistance is an emotional process
Resistance is discomfort expressed indirectly
Identify itName it
Wait
Identify it:Use your own
feelings as a gauge
Activity:Write down how you felt
Name it:Resistance has
many faces
It’s important to the name the resistance in a neutral way
Questioning Methods
“You are asking a lot of questions about my methods. Do you have doubts about the credibility of
results?”
Confusion
“You seem very confused about what we are discussing. Are you confused about the
problem or just not sure what to do about it?”
Intellectualizing
“Each time we get close to deciding what to do, you go
back to developing theories to understand what is happening”
Compliance
“You seem to be willing to do anything I suggest. I can’t tell what
you real feelings are”
Activity:Think about the type
of resistance you were facing and name it in a
neutral way
Wait:Leave room for the response
Share Your Feelings
“Authentic behavior with a client means you put into words what you are experience with the client as you work. This is the most powerful thing you can do to have the leverage you are looking for and the to build client commitment”
Peter BlockFlawless Consulting
