Conversation Planner · for managers
How to talk to an employee who resists change
Read the approach below, or skip ahead and get a plan written for your own situation.
Plan my conversation — free ↓Why the usual approach fails
Resistance is rarely about the change itself. It's about what the person expects to lose — competence, status, a routine they were good at. Selling the benefits harder doesn't touch that. Asking what they're worried about does.
How to open
"I want to talk about the new process. It's been three weeks and your orders are still going through the old sheet. You know this work better than almost anyone, so I'd like to hear what you're seeing."
Ask before you tell
- "What's worse about the new way, from where you sit?"
- "What are you worried you'll lose?"
- "What would have to be true for you to give it a real two-week try?"
What to agree before you leave the room
A time-boxed trial with one specific commitment, and a promise to act on what they find.
Make it yours — free
Edit the details below to match your situation and get a full five-step COACH plan by email.
Other conversations
- How to talk to an overwhelmed employee →
- How to talk to an employee who asks for a raise you can't give →
- How to talk to an employee who was passed over for promotion →
- How to talk to an employee who doesn't speak up in meetings →
- How to talk to an employee who takes credit for others' work →
- How to talk to an employee who is rude to customers →
Built on the COACH method by Jon Kludt, Business Coach · Certified EOS Implementer® · thecoachconversation.com