Lewin’s three stage theory of change: Unfreeze, Change, Refreeze
- The Unfreezing stage – getting ready to change. Getting to a point of understanding that change is necessary, and getting ready to move away from our current comfort zone. Weighing up the ‘pro’s’ and ‘con’s’ and deciding if the ‘pro’s’ outnumber the ‘con’s’ before you take any action. This is when we use the FFA.
- TRANSITION (change is a process)
- REFREEZE (including reinforcement)
WHEN CHANGE IS RESISTED
Whenever driving forces are stronger than restraining forces, the status quo or equilibrium will change.
There will always be driving forces that make change attractive, and restraining forces that work to keep things as they are.
Successful change is achieved by either strengthening the driving forces or weakening the restraining forces. (To do this we need to unfreeze (getting ready), transition, then refreeze (reinforce) – see above).
PRACTICAL APPLICATION EXAMPLE:
LIST DRIVING FORCES
more money
better prospects
PROPOSED CHANGE
I need a better job
RESISTING FORCES
scared I won’t like it
meeting new people
have to move house