Overcoming Common Barriers to Change
In any workplace, adopting new tools, systems or ways of working can feel overwhelming. It’s normal to have concerns such as “I don’t have time to learn this”, “The old way was better”, or “This is too complicated”. These are not excuses, they are genuine barriers that, if left unaddressed, can slow down progress and frustrate staff.
The good news is that these challenges can be addressed with practical strategies. Learning doesn’t need to take hours each day, breaking content into small, manageable steps makes it easier to absorb. By acknowledging concerns and showing the benefits of new ways of working, even those who are initially sceptical can start to see the value.
Watch this video showing a typical scenario and note how the Digital Champion addressed the issue.
Reflection: Think about someone in your office/organisation who faced a similar challenge. Did you try using the same techniques as the Digital Champion in the video? How did it work?
Share your ideas in the Viva Engage Community, using this link: Viva Engage: Digital Champion Techniques
It is also important to understand the difference between technical issues and resistance to change. Technical problems, such as system errors, require different responses than someone simply being hesitant to try something new. Knowing when you can help directly and when to escalate ensures issues are resolved efficiently and staff feel supported.
Here is a table of common concerns and what a Digital Champion can do to help the person involved.
| Issue | Common Resistance Issue | Why It Happens | Solution / Strategy |
| ⏱️ | “I don’t have time to learn this” | Busy schedules make training seem impossible | Break learning into small chunks; use short videos or quick guides; show long-term time savings |
| 🔄 | “The old way was better” | Comfort with familiar processes; fear of change | Acknowledge concerns; highlight benefits with examples; show improvements in workflow |
| 🧩 | “This is too complicated” | New tools or processes feel confusing | Break tasks into small steps; provide guided tutorials; allow safe practice |
| ✅ | Fear of making mistakes | Worry about errors and criticism | Reassure that mistakes are part of learning; offer sandbox/test environments; celebrate small wins |
| 🖥️ | Technical issues vs. resistance | Confusion between real IT problems and behavioural reluctance | Listen carefully; resolve technical issues quickly; address behavioural resistance with support and benefits |
| 🎯 | Lack of understanding of purpose | Employees don’t see why change is needed | Communicate goals and benefits; connect change to their role and outcomes |
| 🔁 | Habit and routine | Comfort with old routines; reluctance to adjust | Introduce change gradually; allow overlap; reinforce new habits with prompts |
| 🧑🤝🧑 | Lack of support or guidance | Feeling isolated during transition | Assign a mentor or Digital Champion; provide resources; create opportunities to ask questions |
Activity: Consider the list above and complete the activity below to place them in order with the most common resistant issue at the top and the least common at the bottom for your own organisation. Once completed, remember to download and save your results to add to Bud.
You can also share your ordered list in the Viva Engage Community, using this link: Viva Engage: Common Resistance Issues
Activity:
Match the challenges with the potential solutions.