How to Address Teams’ Resistance to Changes in Workflow Processes



Industrial businesses are often met with resistance when they try to change workflow processes that their employees have become accustomed to executing (and executing well). This is true even if the changes are ultimately positive for both the organization and the teams performing the work.

The typical response to a change in workflow processes is something like, “Why change now? We’ve always done it this way. ”

Why Are Industrial Teams Often Resistant Change?

According to an article on PumpsandSystems.com by SEPCO’s CEO and cofounder, Chris Wilder, hearing “But we’ve always done it this way” in response to a company attempting to adopt new workflow processes is common. This mindset is especially hardwired into the brains of maintenance and reliability workers.

So, how do managers combat this mindset?

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Source: Unsplash.com, Science in HD

3 Ways to Empower Employees to Embrace Change in Workflow Processes

According to the article, three key courses of action may help facilitate a smooth transition for both the larger company and the personnel who are executing the work:

  1. Take advantage of training opportunities — “Building a culture based on continuous improvement and development sets personnel up to accept and support changes. It also sets them up for success. If rewards are built into this culture, acceptance may be even greater.”
  2. Buy-in from everyone — “Ownership of the changes must live with the people who make them happen. They should have decision power and be applauded for pushing ideas and questions up the chain of command.”
  3. Empower your personnel — “Ownership of the changes must live with the people who make them happen. They should have decision power and be applauded for pushing ideas and questions up the chain of command.”

Read the complete article on PumpsandSystems.com to learn more about facilitating a smooth acceptance of a change in workflow processes.

About the Author
Anna Claire Howard is a contributing writer, editor, and content marketing specialist for Sealing Equipment Products Co. Inc. (SEPCO) and has been since Spring 2019. Before those two big life changes, she was the content marketing specialist for Fluke Accelix; assistant editor for Grand View Outdoors, publisher of Bowhunting World, Predator Xtreme, Whitetail Journal, Tactical Retailer, and Shooting Sports Retailer; managing editor for Media Solutions, Inc., publisher of Gear Solutions, Wind Systems, and Thermal Processing magazines; assistant editor for MSI; and the editorial intern for B.A.S.S., LLC, publisher of Bassmaster Magazine and Bassmaster.com. In these B2B/B2C roles, Anna Claire developed an appreciation for the industrial sector, as well as the operators and technicians who make up the workforce. You can find her on LinkedIn at bit.ly/ACHowardLI.