Lewin’s three stage theory of change: Unfreeze, Change, Refreeze

  1. 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.
  2. TRANSITION (change is a process)
  3. 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