Replying to LO24975 --
On June 26, Roy Benford wrote
>I also find "passive resistance to resistance" an interesting concept but
>in my mind it does raise questions about who is resisting and what are
>they resisting. Also, it reminds me of the old adage "Here comes another
>change programme, keep your heads down, it will blow over just like the
>rest."
In LO24968, John Zavacki contributed,
>In both
>cases, it's a matter of passively resisting the resistance by being
>quietly supportive of their current efforts, while working hard to
>understand them and to pass on our experience and learning as an adjunct
>to their own. Supplant nothing, supplement it.
These words seem very wise to me, if difficult to follow when my own
agendae sweep into the room. I'm reminded that change efforts frequently
run smack up against people's sense of their own role in an organization,
and when change threatens to undermine their current efforts, which they
value, resistance is inevitable and learning stiffled. "Supplant nothing;
supplement it" is respectful while at the same time seeking a way ahead.
Roy then adds,
>Just a personal thought, I find it difficult to change my viewpoint whilst
>in the middle of a discussion. I need a lot of personal space to reflect
>and change my viewpoint. So much so, that I have been accused of needing
>the entire world. Perhaps, this (passive resistance to resistance) is
>giving others the amount of space that they need.
Which seems to me another way of addressing the same issue.
The question then arises, "is there a point at which such passive
resistance becomes counter-productive, because movement ceases? and if
so, how would we recognize it and respond in a way that honors our own
interest as well as others?"
just a curious moment on the journey...
Malcolm
--Malcolm Burson Professional and Organizational Development Specialist Maine Department of Environmental Protection mburson@mint.net; malcolm.c.burson@state.me.us
Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <Richard@Karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>
"Learning-org" and the format of our message identifiers (LO1234, etc.) are trademarks of Richard Karash.