There’s significant value in having the ability to turn middle manager change resistance into support. One method for accomplishing this goal is by employing the Quad A technique. There exists another piece of the puzzle to consider. Sometimes business change management means knowing what not to do. If you would like to call down the wrath of middle managers in your organization, ignore everything that follows. If you would like to minimize friction in that area, what follows are some suggestions that might help you.

Failing to include middle management in the planning of a change is going to increase their resistance. Including them usually results in less problematic plans. It is also a way to increase the likelihood that they will get behind the plan. There is some truth in the idea that people like things better when they have had a hand in the creation. Do not treat them as the opposition. It’s important to bear in mind that the best intentioned change is still going to make their lives harder. Their objections, by and large, are based in their experience running the business.

Never assume that their resistance to your ideas are indicative of personal flaw on their part. Everyone is trying to do their job. Unless there is a compelling reason to believe otherwise, most of the issues you encounter will not be personal. As such, don’t brush over their issues as though they were deranged. They are working at or near the front lines of the business every day. Their thoughts on the matter should be given due consideration and their issues should be noted. Think of them as must fix problems. For a free video tutorial on dealing with middle managers, please see our website: Business Change Management blog

Avoid the mistake of thinking that middle managers are not already working hard. It’s true that not every person in the room is going to be struggling to keep their head above water. Many middle managers are doing just that though. Their time is valuable and they will be opposed to business change management initiatives that look to be time wasters. It is to your benefit to assume that they are just as busy as you are on a day-to-day basis.

To maintain the integrity of your business change management initiative’s timetable, don’t fall into these traps. You cannot allow the change to stall. Though analysis is important, it cannot be allowed to bring the project to a halt. The change will happen. The project has to move to see fruition. If a workaround solutions works, don’t toss it. They may be imperfect solutions, but perfection is rare commodity. There’s no reason why the workaround cannot be replaced later. In the short term, though, use them to get the project moving. That’s what it is all about.

For more information, including extensive online video tutorials, please see our website: Business Change Management blog