As superintendents and school administrators we need to implement new ideas and change on a regular basis. It may be that we need to change attendance boundaries, make budget cuts, or simply modify bus routes.
Regardless, each change and/or new idea which is implemented places us in a situation where someone will be opposed. Experience tells us this is normal and goes with the territory as a superintendent or school administrator. The question is how do we successfully deal with opposition?
-Step 1 – Keep your emotions in check and use the opportunity to analyze the type of opposition tactic which is being used by the individual. The most common tactics are: Deflecting, Delaying, Discrediting, or Dividing.
-Step 2 – Know how to combat each tactic.
Deflecting – The individual attempts shift the focus to a different issue or cause. Solution: Bring the conversation back to the topic, be prepared to provide additional evidence and be persistent using phases like “I understand that concern, but the real issue is…”, or “Yes, that is an important challenge, but the issue we must resolve is…”
Delaying – The tactic of putting you off by indicating that the issue is being addressed already, or that the individual does not have enough information to complete the task. Solution: Sit down with the individual, identify their excuses, and address them one by one. The goal is to take away the roadblocks they have posed so the process can move forward.
Discrediting – Typically this tactic is focused at you, or others within the organization, and is designed to promote the idea that either the topic is not of concern, or the information provided is faulty, or that you simply don’t know what you are doing. Solution: Data, data, data. To the extent you can provide data which backs up your position it becomes hard to argue. Also, if data is not easy to obtain, focus on finding those who are for the idea and can provide an alternative perspective so that the those who desire to discredit (and others) are forced to see the other side of the issue.
Dividing – The goal in dividing is to develop an opposition group which can take an alternative position and fight the new idea. Solution: Be sure to find ways to communicate with all of the divided group, not just its leaders. You want to make sure the information you provide gets to all and is not filtered through those who are not open to discussion. Take the time to understand the divided group’s issues. It may be there are areas where compromise can be achieved which will enable to process to move forward.
Dealing with opposition to new ideas can be tough, but is a skill every leader must have knowledge to address. How do you deal with those who are opposed to new ideas?