E49: You’re going to need more cupcakes

Well, we are back in the thick of January and its time that we caught up with our reticent executive.  Remember him? I’ve spoken about this situation a few times, where an executive is so against “work from home” that he is refusing to take Zoom meetings with his team members as a “last stand” against this unstoppable wave.

I thought that maybe after a holiday break he may return a changed person, but no! He is actually digging in deeper, sticking to his beliefs and trying to use guilt, shame and power to influence his team!

I recap the story from the summer of 2022 (and the great cupcake incident) and bring us up to speed in the present day.  We’ve also given our exec a name… “Henry”  of course not his real name.

This is such a great real time case study in change resistance that I’ll be revisiting it often. I get into the current state of trends in the workplace, the effect of the potential incoming recession in 2023 and the generational factors that are likely driving this person’s extreme resistance. This is a deep study of the 5% at the end of change who will not let go, and even more challenges when they are in a position of power. 

I also mention the book Think Again by Adam Grant as an interesting approach to help people rethink their entrenched beliefs. 

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