Make Change Easier

One of the recurring frustrations for leaders is encountering active and passive resistance from the team when trying to implement beneficial evidence-informed changes. Leaders often feel driven by what’s best for students and the long-term organisational health of the organisation, but face pushback from those who aren’t fully on board. When I am coaching school leaders who are navigating change, I observe that their default response to resistance is to think, “I need to motivate these people, change their mindsets, and have the right conversation at the right time to unlock their buy-in.” While compelling communication is essential, relying solely on this strategy might not be the most effective path forward.

The science of behaviour change offers alternative pathways to rethink and respond to resistance. Here are three key strategies to enhance and increase the likelihood of behavioural shifts:

Make it easier to do

Behavioural science is clear: humans are more likely to engage in tasks that require less effort. In a school environment, this could mean providing tools, setting specific times for tasks, and creating an environment conducive to engagement. Instead of focusing solely on motivation, try to reduce the actual effort needed in order to match their current level of motivation.

Make it easier to start

The ‘fresh start effect’ suggests that humans are more likely to begin new tasks at significant moments, such as the start of a new year, term, or month. Use these opportunities to help people start with a clear mindset. Ensure the environment is safe early on and help people to make early progress. Motivation often follows early success, so don’t overload them initially. Instead, meet them where they are and give them positive feedback on early achievements.

Make it easier to see

Humans are social beings, heavily influenced by observing others. Demonstrating real examples of success within the local context is incredibly powerful. Try to highlight incidents where the new approach is working in your context, even if it’s not perfect. Find key champions and leaders in your school or system to model these changes, making it easier for others to follow. This establishes new norms and ways of working.

If you’re experiencing pushback, remember that rather than solely trying to motivate people, you can use behavioural science insights to make things easier. By making tasks easier to do, start, and see, you increase the likelihood of progress and build motivation over time as people see the benefits of the approach in action.