Resistance to Change – The Shockwave That Stops Momentum

Even the best strategy fails if people can’t adapt.

Resistance to Change, or Wave Drag, appears when transformation hits a culture not yet ready to absorb it. The faster you try to move, the stronger the resistance becomes.

It’s rarely open defiance. It’s more often fatigue, confusion, or quiet disengagement. People want to help – they just don’t trust the process.

Within the LIFT Model, this drag lives mainly in the People and Process Pillars:
• Attitude and Awareness determine receptiveness to new ideas.
• Discipline and Team-Sense ensure follow-through and connection.

When these are weak, change feels like something done to people, not with them. To reduce drag, leaders must explain the why, involve teams early, and celebrate adaptation, not just outcomes.

Resilience grows when people understand their part in the bigger story.

Ask yourself:

Are we managing change – or just announcing it?

Call to action:

Wingman’s Development Programmes help build adaptability and cultural maturity across all levels. If change feels like resistance, we’ll help you build readiness instead.