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To cope with the stress of change, about 50% of people are willing to change but they are extra cautious. They want to feel comfortable with a new idea before committing to it, that is, before they accept it. How can you work best with these cautious Change Acceptors?

Here are 10 smart ideas:

Respect their reluctance and do not attempt intimidating them into accepting change.
If appropriate, propose the change as a 5 week experiment.
Offer encouragement, reassurance and training.
Offer evidence and endorsements that support the rationale for the change.
Be honest in your communication; yet err on the side of optimism.
Give them something to believe in.
Show genuine appreciation for their efforts to make the change work.
Don’t penalize for “failure.”
Share success stories and evidence that the change is working as expected (or better).
For “Change Acceptors” who enjoy the spotlight, publicly endorse their personal successes.

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