When Their Strategy Becomes Your Problem
PART 2 OF 3
In the last post, I shared a story about a transformation executive who was both surprised and frustrated. Despite all the energy and planning that went into the initiative he was leading, most people seemed to be taking a passive stance. They weren’t resisting, exactly—but they also weren’t actively moving the change forward in their own roles or across the organization.
And here’s the thing: that kind of passivity is actually the norm in most change efforts. Once we accept that, we can stop wasting energy wishing people were different—and start shifting our own approach.
It’s probably unreasonable to expect most people to engage with change enthusiastically and proactively right away. More often, they’ll go along with what’s presented but won’t take much initiative unless something nudges them to do so.
So then the question becomes: What can we do with that reality?
That’s what I want to explore in this post. If we accept that passivity is a common default response to change, how can we adjust our strategy?
For me, this starts with reframing the problem. Instead of asking, “How do I get people to change?” I shift the question to:
“Given what I know about how people typically respond, how do I change the way I lead?”
That could mean adjusting our change strategy. Or it could mean changing the environment, because people, like water, tend to follow the path of least resistance. If passivity is the norm, how can we make it easier for people to move in the direction of the change?
For example, we might:
Rework workflows or communication channels so the new way is easier than the old one.
Adjust incentives or remove friction points that get in the way.
Set up structures that guide people gently toward new behaviors without requiring heroic effort on their part.
Another question I always ask is: How am I showing up?
Where is my sense of urgency coming from?
Have I clearly communicated the reasons for the change—not just what’s changing, but why it matters?
Have I honored the perspectives and concerns others are bringing to the table?
When we step back and assess the landscape this way, we often see new creative possibilities. But let’s be real: if you’re the only one pushing for a change, this can feel like an uphill battle. Even when you know what’s going on, you can still feel stuck.
So in the next post, I’ll share what to do when you’re feeling exactly that—stuck and unsure where to turn for inspiration. Especially when you know you need to be creative but feel like you’ve already tried everything.
Stay tuned.
