What They Are Afraid of Losing
By Nicole Arthur
This past long weekend reminded me of something about change.
After a few extra days away from routine, I noticed myself becoming unsettled as normal life approached again.
Not because there was anything wrong with what was coming next.
In fact, once I was back into my usual rhythm, everything was fine.
It made me wonder whether we sometimes misunderstand resistance to change.
When people push back on a new system, process, structure, or way of working, we often focus on what they're gaining.
The benefits.
The opportunities.
The future state.
But what if the resistance isn't about what's ahead?
What if it's about what they're leaving behind?
As change leaders, we often ask:
"Why are people resisting?"
A more useful question might be:
"What valuable thing are they afraid of losing?"
Because beneath the surface, people are often trying to protect:
- Certainty — knowing what to expect
- Choice — having influence over what happens next
- Confidence — feeling capable and effective
- Identity — understanding where they fit
- Belonging — feeling connected to people and place
I realised that people rarely resist a process, a system, or a piece of technology.
They're responding to the loss of something those things represent.
Perhaps our role as change leaders is to understand what people are trying to preserve.