Defusing resistance to change: a strategic challenge for engaging your teams

Why is this topic key today?

Transformation of organizations, acceleration of transitions, increasing complexity of environments... in this context, change is no longer the exception: it is becoming the norm .
However, individual and collective resistance to change(s) can remain strong, sometimes invisible, often underestimated.
They slow down transformation dynamics, compromise the implementation of structuring projects, and generate a loss of energy and meaning in teams.

Today, defusing this resistance can no longer be limited to top-down or instrumental change management. It is a strategic lever for strengthening engagement , developing individual responsibility and building a more adaptive organizational culture.


Best practices to implement

> Identify the right levers for action

Every organization has its own maturity when it comes to change. Before taking action, it is essential to make a shared diagnosis :

  • where are the obstacles (cultural, relational, structural)?
  • What levers are already present in the company?
  • Who are the influential actors, drivers or relays of transformation?

This detailed reading of the context makes it possible to adapt approaches and avoid generic responses and actions .

> Rely on collaborative tools or effective rituals

Change is happening on a daily basis: in team discussions, in managerial decisions, in the way we give feedback or lead meetings . Implementing structuring rituals (objective reviews, progress reports, sharing practices) or collaborative tools (collective diagnostics, analysis matrices, solution design) helps secure the process and make change tangible, progressive and measurable.

> Promote participation and co-responsibility

Resistance decreases when employees feel they are part of the process . More than communication, it is co-construction that engages: involving teams in defining priorities, resolving irritants, or experimenting with new ways of doing things allows them to be authors and not just executors of change. This requires a clear framework, spaces for expression and a managerial stance open to dialogue and uncertainty.


Pitfalls to avoid

> Not involving the right stakeholders

Too often, transformation initiatives are designed in isolation or driven by a single hierarchical level. Forgetting to involve local managers, internal contacts, or the relevant teams undermines the momentum from the start. Change implemented without the right people is change that is forced upon you.

> Not listening to the objections or obstacles expressed

Sometimes managers perceive their team's reluctance to change, but they consciously or unconsciously choose not to address it. This is a mistake because this lack of listening or attention can be a source of individual and even collective demotivation.
Identifying the obstacles means giving yourself the means to deal with them as a team, to overcome them and thus to multiply the engagement of all.

> Reduce the issue to a simple tool or process

Change isn't just a matter of method, but of stance, vision, and relational effectiveness. A new tool, a new organizational chart, or a new procedure are not enough to sustainably transform an organization if representations, habits, or relationships of trust remain unchanged.

> Forget the rise in skill teams

Transformation requires resources. Employees must be equipped to cope with the unknown, make decisions in an unstable environment, manage tensions, and navigate change themselves. Forgetting to incorporate this learning dimension amounts to setting goals without providing the resources to achieve them.

How can Equoranda help you overcome resistance to change?

At Equoranda, we help organizations translate their vision and transformation ambitions into sustainable collective dynamics , taking into account their cultural, managerial and operational reality.

Our training courses are designed to strengthen the capacity for action of individuals and groups , whatever their level of maturity:

  • To create and share the vision of your company or project to help align your teams and generate more engagement strategic issues.
  • To develop the efficiency of your managers.
  • To develop everyone’s “soft skills” to improve communication and interpersonal relationships.

> The most frequently cited benefits of our training for executives and managers

  • Strengthened individual and collective performance
  • A lasting improvement in relational quality and effectiveness
  • Stimulated motivation, confidence and cohesion , generating a engagement reinforced


Concretely, our support allows you to strengthen performance or, in other words, to multiply internal resources , with the key to a measurable progression of results... and well-being within your company.

Intra or inter-company, in French or English: the deployment of our training courses adapts to your wishes

At Equoranda, we understand that each organization has unique needs, both in terms of format and language. That's why our training programs are designed to fit your needs and objectives:

  • In-house training , for a fully personalized program, aligned with your culture and your specific challenges, and bringing your teams together in a privileged setting.
  • Inter-company training , offering enrichment through the sharing of experiences with professionals from other sectors, in a dynamic and open environment.
  • Our presentations are also offered in French or English , in order to meet your international needs and guarantee optimal understanding for all participants.


This flexibility guarantees efficient and pragmatic deployment, as close as possible to your operational and strategic realities.


Management: anticipating, identifying and defusing resistance to change – inter-company sessions 2025

🔸 The Fundamentals of Modern Management 🔸
October 15-16 | Grenoble

The “ Fundamentals of Modern Management ® ” program provides the keys to developing your skills and his posture as a committed and engaging manager.
It is aimed at new managers but also at those who wish to modernize their practices!


🔸 NEWS ® Manager Coach 🔸
November 26-27 | Grenoble


The " NEWS ® Manager Coach " program is aimed at experienced managers. It allows them to gain perspective on their responsibilities and adopt coaching tools to develop engagement and the autonomy of its employees, and thus save time and obtain better results.


🔸 NEWS ® Manager Team Leader 🔸
October 1-2 | Montpellier


The “ NEWS ® Manager Team Leader ” program is aimed at team managers or project managers who wish to stimulate the motivation of their employees on a daily basis by leading effective meetings.


🔸 Exercising Influence ® – The Art of Influencing with Integrity 🔸
November 5-6 | Lyon


The “ Exercising Influence ® ” program helps you improve the quality of your interactions and achieve results.
Isn't that what everyone dreams about?! Imagine that with just a few minutes of preparation and using the tools provided, you can successfully gain buy-in and achieve your goals while strengthening your relationship with your stakeholders!


🔸 Strategic Thinking ® – Think better and bigger® 🔸
November 19-20 | Lyon

The Strategic Thinking ® program gives you a toolbox to apply strategic thinking to your daily tasks. You'll discover that by doing things a little differently, without taking up more time, you'll gain in efficiency, problem-solving skills, and influence.

Let's take some time for a confidential discussion to identify the right program for your employees ( and register them )


Faster and more user-friendly
call us 06 72 52 63 49


You would like to know more about the key figures of the engagement employees: see the full Gallup 2025 report

Date modified: July 7, 2025

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For your information: The information collected in this form is subject to computer processing by EQUORANDA for the purposes of managing relationships with its customers and prospects. In accordance with the “information technology and freedoms” law of January 6, 1978 amended in 2004, you have the right to access, rectify and oppose information that concerns you, which you can exercise by writing to: EQUORANDA, 23 Avenue du Granier, 38240 Meylan/ or by e-mail at: info@www.equoranda.com/ or by telephone at: 09 75 27 17 20