Recently I was reflecting on the resistance I got from some people on my ship when I tried to implement a few minor changes. I had been reading a book about management, leadership and team building when the "good idea ferry" started to go to work in my brain. I was "in charge" after all and felt responsible to make my organization better if I saw a way to do so. "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins" James 4:17
What I don't remember any of those books saying is how stinking hard it can be to make a change to "the way we have always done things." I was really discouraged by the strong resistance I met (even with the more senior people in the organization who were supposed to be on my side) and was tempted to give up and accept the status quo. It would have been helpful if those books said something like "these are good ideas but you will definitely meet strong resistance if you try to implement them." At least then I would have expected it.
If you have ever tried to change the way an organization does things, you know how difficult it can be; but that isn't a reason not to try. As many of the quotes say below, just because people disagree with you, doesn't mean it is a bad idea. As Christians in a secular environment, we may meet resistance more often than others because simply because we have a different worldview.
If you are trying to implement some good ideas and are meeting strong resistance, take courage and don't give up. Resistance is part of the process along the road to success.
Quotes on new Ideas and Change:
New ideas pass through three periods: 1) It can’t be done. 2) It probably can be done, but it’s not worth doing. 3) I knew it was a good idea all along! – Arthur C. Clarke
If you want to make enemies, try to change something – Woodrow Wilson
I cannot say whether things will get better if we change; what I can say is they must change if they are to get better. –Georg C. Lichtenberg
Don’t worry about people stealing your ideas. If your ideas are any good, you’ll have to ram them down people’s throats. –Howard Aiken
Every really new idea looks crazy at first. –Alfred North Whitehead
Get a good idea and stay with it. Dog it, and work at it until it’s done right.– Walt Disney
No matter how brilliantly an idea is stated, we will not really be moved unless we have already half thought of it ourselves. – Mignon McLaughlin
The only people in the world who can change things are those who can sell ideas. – Lois Wyse
If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading. – Lao Tzu
Don’t be afraid of new ideas. Be afraid of old ideas. They keep you where you are and stop you from growing and moving forward. Concentrate on where you want to go, not on what you fear. –Anthony Robbins
We think good ideas to death, when we should be acting them to life. – Brian G. Jett
Good ideas are not adopted automatically. They must be driven into practice with courageous patience. –Hyman Rickover
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