Why Smart People Resist Change


Dear Reader,

In a recent coaching session, my client expressed this to me about a few members of her team:

"I think they’re fighting for comfort instead of fighting to learn."

Not because they don't value learning.
Not because they aren't smart.
Not because they don't understand the business case for change.

Because comfort makes incredibly compelling arguments.

I’ve heard one or more of these statements numerous times over my career (and in full disclosure, I’ve absolutely uttered each of them at least once myself):

➡️ "This process works just fine."

➡️ "Let's wait until the technology improves."

➡️ "We don't have time to learn something new right now."

➡️ "Our clients aren't asking for this."

None of those statements are necessarily wrong. But sometimes they're really about protecting what feels familiar.

As leaders, we often assume resistance means people don't understand the change.

More often, they understand it perfectly.

They're simply weighing the temporary discomfort of learning against the immediate comfort of staying where they are (and likely already excel).

If we're being honest, we all do this.

☑️ We do it when we avoid delegating because we can do it faster ourselves.

☑️ When we postpone a difficult conversation.

☑️ When we stick with the strategy we've always used because it's predictable.

☑️ When we are asked to learn a new bit of technology.

☑️ When we choose competence over curiosity.

Comfort isn't the villain. It's where we recover. It's where we build confidence. It's where we catch our breath.

But it isn't always the best place to make decisions about growth.

The next time you find yourself making a case against trying something new, pause for a moment and ask yourself:

Is this really the strongest argument, or am I confusing familiar with better?

The answer won't necessarily change your decision. But it might change how you make it.


With ease, Tracy


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Hi! I'm Tracy, an Executive and Leadership Coach.

Learn how to lead effortlessly by establishing boundaries, collaborting with people with different work styles, and making delegation easier, all while lowering stress and feeling confident in any role, based on my experience as both a long-time executive and a certified executive and leadership coach.

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