I wrote last week about Workaround Superheroes, and the resistance they can feel to any change that threatens that identity.
Technology is an obvious example: you’ve got a tech system that’s been in place for a while, it’s got glitches, and there are one or two people who are uncannily brilliant at figuring out how to make things work despite the glitches.
I wrote about this on LinkedIn as well, telling the story of an employee at my husband’s technology business. This person’s latest feat of superhero-ing was when he said, “Yeah, it tells you the transaction didn’t go through. Just hit the back button and resubmit. On the third time, it will work.”
Huh? Whut?! But there it was. It worked.
Now, I often get various forms of feedback on my articles and LinkedIn posts (and I love it – do write!), but in this case, it was especially interesting. Two responses were on opposite ends of the spectrum. One said,
Oh no! I’m a “workarounder” and have a proud identity of Someone Who Can Figure Things Out(tm)!… While I wouldn’t consider myself resistant to change, but after taking a few moments of introspection, I can say that I don’t complain about the change if I’m the one who discovered the change and can tell everyone about it! Otherwise, I dig in my heels a bit.
(That’s Mark, who wrote me an email.)
The other person, responding to the LinkedIn post, said:
My experience has been the opposite. Many of those Workaround Superheroes wish they didn’t have to do so many workarounds and are glad when it gets fixed.
(That was Jeff, and you can see his full comment on the LinkedIn post.)
As with so much of leadership – and life! – it’s both / and.
Both perspectives are 100% valid.
Sometimes someone is clinging to the identity of being The One Who Knows.
Sometimes someone has an identity of Let’s Fix This For Everyone.
Neither is inherently wrong or bad. And the key as a leader is to know which perspective your team members have.
Because that’s the only way you’ll know what to say, what to do, to support your team and move change forward.
So, you ask, how do you figure this out? It’s all part of understanding the different types of resistance – because all resistance is not the same! Drop me a note through my contact form and we’ll set a time to talk.