How to Reduce Fear and Anxiety Around Workplace Change

Why Resistance to Change Is a Major Business Risk—And How to Fix It

If your business needs to change, but your people don’t want to, the process will be slow, stressful, and deliver mediocre results at best.

In today’s fast-moving world, change isn’t optional—it’s essential for business survival. Yet, many organizations struggle because their employees resist change. And when resistance takes hold, growth slows, morale drops, and even the best strategies fail.

So, why is resistance to change such a big problem, and what can businesses do about it?

The Hidden Cost of Resistance to Change

Many leaders assume that resistance to change is just part of human nature, but the real issue is deeper. Change programs don’t fail because employees are incapable. They fail because people feel overwhelmed, uncertain, or stuck in old patterns.

When employees resist change, businesses face:

✅ Slower progress: Even the best initiatives stall when teams push back.
✅ Lower productivity: Uncertainty and frustration drain focus and efficiency.
✅ Higher turnover: Employees who feel disconnected from change are more likely to leave.
✅ Lost opportunities: Organizations that resist change fall behind more agile competitors.

How to Overcome Resistance to Change

The good news? Resistance isn’t a fixed trait—it’s trainable.

Julian Mather, a motivational speaker on change and leadership, understands this firsthand. He once thought he was terrible at change, but he transformed himself by embracing adaptability. His journey includes:

✅ Average shot → Army sniper
✅ Home movies → National Geographic cameraman
✅ Fumbling card tricks → Professional magician
✅ Never swinging a hammer → Building a home
✅ High school dropout → Published author
✅ Business rookie → Building and selling a company
✅ Stutterer → Motivational speaker

At every stage, Julian learned that change isn’t about talent or luck—it’s about building a skillset. And that’s the key lesson organizations need to adopt.

How a Change Keynote Can Help Your Team Break Through Resistance

The biggest challenge isn’t introducing new ideas—it’s getting people to embrace them. That’s where a keynote speaker like Julian Mather can make a real impact. His CHANGEABILITY keynote helps teams and leaders:

✅ Understand why they resist change—and how to overcome it
✅ Develop a growth mindset to handle uncertainty
✅ Replace fear with confidence through small, daily actions
✅ Learn practical strategies to make change feel easier and less overwhelming

By shifting how people think about change, businesses can reduce friction, increase buy-in, and accelerate progress.

Final Thoughts

Resistance to change is one of the biggest risks businesses face—but it’s also one of the most solvable challenges. With the right mindset, tools, and leadership, employees can learn to see change as an opportunity rather than a threat.

If your organization is facing change and you need your people to be on board, bringing in an expert keynote speaker like Julian Mather can make all the difference.