50 Reasons Why We Can't Change

1. We've never done it before.

2. Nobody else has ever done it.

3. It has never been tried before.

4. We tried it before.

5. Another company/person tried it before.

6. We've been doing it this way for 25 years.

7. It won't work in a small company.

8. It won't work in a large company.

9. It won't work in our company.

10. Why change -- it's working OK.

11. The boss will never buy it.

12. It needs further investigation.

13. Our competitors are doing it.

14. It's too much trouble to change.

15. Our company is different.

16. The ad department says it can't be done.

17. Sales department says it can't be done.

18. The service department won't like it.

19. The janitor says it can't be done.

20. It can't be done.

21. We don't have the money.

22. We don't have the personnel.

23. We don't have the equipment.

24. The union will scream.

25. It's too visionary.

26. You can't teach an old dog new tricks.

27. It's too radical a change.

28. It's beyond my responsibility.

29. It's not my job.

30. We don't have the time.

31. It will obsolete other procedures.

32. Customers won't buy it.

33. It's contrary to policy.

34. It will increase overhead.

35. The employees will never buy it.

36. It's not our problem.

37. I don't like it.

38. You're right but...

39. We're not ready for it.

40. It needs more thought.

41. Management won't accept it.

42. We can't take the chance.

43. We'd lose money on it.

44. It takes too long to pay out.

45. We're doing all right as it is.

46. It needs committee study.

47. The competition won't like it.

48. It needs sleeping on.

49. It won't work in this department.

50. It's impossible.

From Resisters to Champions - How People's Reasons Energized a Division.

One manager I knew was very committed to changing his organization.  He made a sign for his door which had the "50 Reasons Why We Can't Change" on it and the following message. He posted it and and handed out copies of  it out at meetings.

"In order to save time, please submit your reasons it won't work by number." This forced people to do more in-depth thinking about their issues which, in turn led to better discussions. Their meeting were spent working out the issues and people who were formerly seen as resisters of change were developed into a "think-tank" of change. 

Copyright1996 by FastCompany. All Rights Reserved