What do you do if your opinions and ideas are met with resistance?

When we face resistance it is important to understand the perspective of others. Take time to understand where this resistance is coming from. What lens do they view the world from? Its important to acknowledge and understand why they are resisting by asking questions and sharing your perspective. Open communication, empathy, and patience will help break down the resistance. Everyone wants to feel that they are heard and valued, take the time to ensure that your team feels that way, especially when you face resistance from them.

If your opinions and ideas are met with resistance, listen to the concerns, ask for specific feedback, and respond thoughtfully. Adapt your approach if necessary, providing evidence or examples to support your ideas, and seek common ground to foster collaboration.

Every resistance encountered brings out the character in us. Understanding the reason behind the resistance with empathy helps to create bypass bridges. Question- How does this Idea impact the system and what would it mean for the stakeholders?

It may also be useful to start by highlighting common objectives, ensuring everyone's aligned toward shared goals. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

The best way to navigate any resistance is to acknowledge it and maintain composure in the pressure moments. Create allys and propagate the proposed idea to build the critical mass to start with.

More than clearly, Communicate Empathetically. This would serve the people resistant to the proposed idea. Keep the discussions short and simple.

Be careful when building support that it does not come across as "us vs them". Also, once a decision is made, if everyone has had the opportunity to contribute their input, we should ask for their buy-in, even if they disagree with the approach.

It's best to find a middle ground if possible, but sometimes that is not possible. The key is to ensure that everyone feels heard. If the final decision is to go a different route, take time to explain why. That will make it easier to get buy-in from people, even if they don't agree with the approach.

Receiving feedback is a bit tough initially. When you receive feedback, take some time to digest it, go for a nature walk instead. This will clear your mind. Once you are back with a fresh mind, list down the things mentioned in the feedback and start working on it gradually. Record how you have worked on it as you can input it in easily for your year-end performance or for the purpose of self-evaluation etc. Use it as a learning opportunity and see the difference.

I would ask the other party which part of my opinion they don't like and why. I would encourage them to be honest, unbiased, and logical before asking for their facts and evidence to support their claims. If whatever they explain makes sense, I would easily adjust my opinion. If not, I would counter their argument while acknowledging why they may feel strongly about their opinion. If two parties are logical thinkers and are trying to be unbiased while aiming for the same goal, it should be quite simple to come to a compromise. Please keep in mind that each case/situation is different. It will NOT be this easy all the time.

Is your voice being heard? Consider if biases or egos are at play. When it's you, enlist an influencer to champion your idea—you can take credit later. If your idea lacks appeal, engage with others' suggestions and ask probing questions. This strategy can lead the team to see the value in your proposal. Let's explore strategies together and ensure your ideas shine!

1. Listen: Hear out the reasons for resistance. 2. Clarify: Make sure everyone understands your ideas. 3. Adapt: Modify your ideas to address concerns if possible. 4. Collaborate: Work together to find common ground. 5. Stay Respectful: Keep communication respectful and constructive. 6. Know When to Move On: If needed, let go and focus on other priorities. 7. Learn: Take lessons from the experience for future interactions.

Empathise and Validate: Show empathy towards your clients' concerns. Validating their feelings can help build trust and openness, making them more receptive to new ideas . Encourage Open Dialogue: Foster an environment where open communication is encouraged. Invite questions, concerns, and feedback, and address them constructively . Reframe and Challenge Beliefs: Gently challenge and reframe any limiting beliefs your clients may hold. Offer new perspectives that align with their broader goals .