Working Conversations Episode 103:

Why Some People are Slow to Change

Do you ever wonder why some people are eager to change while others are more hesitant to try new things, like a piece of software or a gadget?

And how about you? Are you quick to try something new? Or maybe you need to see evidence first before adopting a change? Or, are you a holdout, begrudgingly using the new innovation only when you absolutely have to?

As a future of work keynote speaker, I recently had the opportunity to work with a group of mid-level managers on managing teams in hybrid work environment.

During our session, I introduced them to Everett Rogers' theory on the Diffusion of Innovation, which has been a powerful tool in helping us understand how and why people adopt new ideas, processes, and technology.

In this episode, I share the challenges of these leaders and the tools I equipped them with to tackle those challenges. Join me as I explore the Diffusion of Innovation to help you understand why people adopt new ideas at different rates. This theory has held the test of time in terms of its explanatory power in helping us understand why some people more readily adopt new ideas, processes, and technology.

The model explains that there are five different categories of adoption that fall along a bell curve: Innovators, Early Adopters, Early Majority, Late Majority, and Laggards. I explore each category in detail, including the stages in which new ideas get evaluated prior to adoption and the factors that influence whether someone will ultimately adopt an innovation.

Through real-life examples, I illustrate where companies fall on the innovation curve and how they use this information to shape their strategies. You may be surprised to learn that some companies, like Apple, may not be as innovative as you thought.

Listen and catch the full episode here or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also watch it and replay it on my YouTube channel, JanelAndersonPhD.

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