Implementing change in a large organization can seem a little like steering the Titanic! As slowly as it takes new business processes to swing into action, a change in the mindsets of the people performing these processes sometimes seems even slower.

People at work are strongly motivated both by a desire to do a good job, and by fear of failure. It is fear that creates defensiveness and resistance to change. Sometimes fear can overcome the desire to do a good job!

Organizational leadership facing the negative effects of fear of change can sometimes react badly, and try to counter the fear through "Rah! Rah!" sessions, creating cynicism, or worse, through threats of one kind or another - thus creating even more fear.

Unlike many change management consultants, we believe that fear in the workforce is not overcome by "working on people's attitudes". People at work in large organizations overcome their fear only when they have confidence that new ways of doing things can work - and especially when they have confidence that they can perform "up to speed" and do a good job!

That's why the only sure way to get people to accept a change in the way they do things is through performance-based training in new processes and procedures. Once they are confident that they are fully competent in the new system or "the new way", the fear of failure evaporates, and the normal human desire to do a good job and do it well takes its place.