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?

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.