Just a Theory About Change

Several innovation leaders I follow on Twitter are whining over the last couple days about the new Facebook. These guys are noted as pastors that push the envelope of creativity and in some cases write very popular blogs and books on innovation and relevance.

I would be willing to bet their problem with the new Facebook is not so much with the changes but the fact that nobody asked them. Therefore their tone is like many of those we all lead when change is forced too quickly without the process of “buy in” from the people.

My theory is this:

Resistance to change is never about change, it’s always about control.

Thoughts?

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This entry was posted on Friday, September 12th, 2008 at 8:34 amand is filed under Leadership. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
  • http://www.douglake.blogspot.com D.Lake

    Dude! I think you hit the nail on the head!

    Is that your quote? If you don’t tell me otherwise, I will forever reference you on that. I would say resistance to rarely about change (I think for some it may be about change).

    I agree, about the Facebook change thing. As leaders (Facebook in this case) we have to make some change without asking permission – for the good of all involved.

  • http://www.scottharris.org Scott Harris

    Doug, I’m hesitant to say that it’s my quote because I may have heard it somewhere or read it…but if so, can’t remember.

    Everyone changes. And I like it a whole lot better when it’s my idea…control!

  • http://profile.typekey.com/rbarrans/ Ryan Barrans

    You may be right on change in general, but in this case I think no, the changes are actually for the worse. You have to navigate a lot more and click more to get profile information. I have to click 5 times to get information that I used to be able to get from a single page. To me the new design actually seems more cluttered.

  • http://www.scottharris.org Scott Harris

    Ryan, I felt this way too at first but have been using the new facebook for a few weeks now. I like it better. I’m sure the changes were necessary due to what they wanted to accomplish. for example, I love feed filters. turn off or on stuff you either want to see or not.

    Pretty cool in my opinion.

  • Shocks

    Resistance to change is never about change, it’s about control.

    Gosh, you know how much it pains me to say this but… that was brilliant.

    I have a feeling you were not just talking about FB.

  • Katie

    Hey Scott – we’ve never met, but I go to Brooklake and found your blog on that site.

    Let me preface this by saying that I’m a psychologist and essentially make my living trying to help people change. So, I could probably (literally) write a dissertation on this topic (but don’t worry, I won’t).

    I agree with your statement in that I think our motivation to change is mediated by our degree of control in the situation. However, I’d have to say that people’s ability to change is waaaay to complex to address here and too complex to compare to Facebook. (But as a teaser I firmly believe that people change only in relationship – with God and with other people.) Thanks for the challenging thought.

  • http://www.scottharris.org Scott Harris

    Katie, thanks for your comment. I would agree that change in ones life is way to complex to compare to Facebook. I certainly didn’t intend to imply as such. In fact, the post was more directed towards organizations in general. For what’s it’s worth I’m earning my masters in Organization Leadership and the post was motivated by some of my experience/research.

    thanks again for reading/commenting!

  • Katie

    MOL? From Biola? I know they have a program…I went to Rosemead for my Ph.D.

  • B Thompson

    I was reading archived entries, and your theory caught my attention.

    I think in light of the presidential campaigns, the inverse of your theory could also be true: That seeking change is not about change, it’s about control.