---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People often resist change for reasons…"
description: "\"People often resist change for reasons that make good sense to them, even if those reasons don't correspond to organizational goals. So it is crucial t..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f8/rosabeth-moss-kanter-4386_achievement_people-often-resist-change-for-reasons-t_2634719.png"
---

#  People often resist change for reasons that make good…

![“People often resist change for reasons that make good sense to them, even if those reasons don't correspond to organizational goals. So it is crucial to recognize, reward, and celebrate accomplishments.” quote by Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f8/rosabeth-moss-kanter-4386_achievement_people-often-resist-change-for-reasons-t_2634719.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f8/rosabeth-moss-kanter-4386_achievement_people-often-resist-change-for-reasons-t_2634719.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f8/rosabeth-moss-kanter-4386_achievement_people-often-resist-change-for-reasons-t_2634719.png)

> “People often resist change for reasons that make good sense to them, even if those reasons don't correspond to organizational goals. So it is crucial to recognize, reward, and celebrate accomplishments.”

[Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

People resist change for personal reasons; recognizing and rewarding progress helps align goals.

**In simple terms:** Rewarding progress eases resistance.

Key Takeaway

Reward and celebrate achievements.

Themes

change management motivation reward systems organizational behavior

Mood

analytical encouraging

Type

business motivational

When to use this quote

- team meetings
- performance reviews
- training programs
- company retreats

Key Concepts

Behavioral economics leadership psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you align personal motives with organizational goals?
- What rewards best motivate your team?

A Different Perspective

Rewards may not address deeper concerns.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Achievement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/)

## Related quotes

> [It is crucial to recognize, reward, and celebrate accomplishments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/it-is-crucial-to-recognize-reward-and-celebrate-accomplishments/)

[Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/)

> [“A good recruitment policy and process of a company should always be designed by integrating organizational goals with employee needs , further with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/legal-advisor-henrietta-newton-martin/a-good-recruitment-policy-and-process-of-a-company-should-always-be/)

Legal Advisor Henrietta Newton Martin

> [Success, cannot be attained alone. Any person's time and power is limited. A wise leader enlists others in working toward organizational goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gichin-funakoshi/success-cannot-be-attained-alone-any-person-s-time-and-power-is/)

[Gichin Funakoshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gichin-funakoshi/)

> [“HR is My Area of Interest Where I Can Utilize My Professional Skills Throughout Fill The Gaps Between Organizational Goals With Employees Goals.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avinash-advani/hr-is-my-area-of-interest-where-i-can-utilize-my-professional-skills/)

[Avinash Advani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avinash-advani/)

> [I don't have time to celebrate accomplishments. When good things happen, it's great, and obviously I get excited inside. But soon I gotta do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clinton-sparks/i-don-t-have-time-to-celebrate-accomplishments-when-good-things/)

[Clinton Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clinton-sparks/)

> [Stop seeing to obstacles you face as reasons why you can't do something, see them as a reason why you can, and celebrate your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-vincent/stop-seeing-to-obstacles-you-face-as-reasons-why-you-can-t-do/)

[Ali Vincent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-vincent/)

> [I don't celebrate accomplishments that well. I don't feel like I dwell on failures that much either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scottie-scheffler/i-don-t-celebrate-accomplishments-that-well-i-don-t-feel-like-i-dwell/)

[Scottie Scheffler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scottie-scheffler/)

> [You change for two reasons. Either you learn enough that you want to or youve been hurt enough that you have to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-change-for-two-reasons-either-you-learn-enough-that-you-want-to-2/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [People change for some reasons.. and sometimes reason to change are things that are unbearable..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-change-for-some-reasons-and-sometimes-reason-to-change-are/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [People change for two reasons... either they learned enough that they want change, or they have been hurt enough that they have changed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/people-change-for-two-reasons-either-they-learned-enough-that-they/)

[Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/)

> [You change for two reasons, either you learn enough that you want to or you've been hurt enough that you have to](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-change-for-two-reasons-either-you-learn-enough-that-you-want-to/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [People often change for two reasons: either you've learned enough that you want to change or you've been hurt enough that you need to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/people-often-change-for-two-reasons-either-you-ve-learned-enough-that/)

[Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/)

> [I believe we change for two reasons: Either you learn enough that you want to, or you've been hurt enough that you have to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crystal-roby/i-believe-we-change-for-two-reasons-either-you-learn-enough-that-you/)

[Crystal Roby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crystal-roby/)

> [The things I can't change are the reasons you'll love me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/the-things-i-can-t-change-are-the-reasons-you-ll-love-me/)

[Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/)

> [Women change for one of two reasons: They have learned a lot or they have been hurt too many times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/women-change-for-one-of-two-reasons-they-have-learned-a-lot-or-they/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

## More by Rosabeth Moss Kanter

> [Not everyone in an organization is in a position to accumulate power through competent performance because most people are just carrying out the ordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/not-everyone-in-an-organization-is-in-a-position-to-accumulate-power/)

[Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/)

> [I wonder whether there has been too much emphasis on teaching women to conform, to fit into the system. Certainly that suits conservative organizations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/i-wonder-whether-there-has-been-too-much-emphasis-on-teaching-women/)

[Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/)

> [After years of telling corporate citizens to 'trust the system,' many companies must relearn instead to trust their people - and encourage their people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/after-years-of-telling-corporate-citizens-to-trust-the-system-many/)

[Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/)

> [Creativity is a lot like looking at the world through a kaleidoscope. You look at a set of elements, the same ones everyone else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/creativity-is-a-lot-like-looking-at-the-world-through-a-kaleidoscope/)

[Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/)

> [The difference between "winners" and "losers" is not whether they face obstacles and setbacks - we all do, and it is inevitable that plans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/the-difference-between-winners-and-losers-is-not-whether-they-face/)

[Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/)

> [Friendly people are caring people, eager to provide encouragement and support when needed most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/friendly-people-are-caring-people-eager-to-provide-encouragement-and/)

[Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/)

> [Power is the ability to get things done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/power-is-the-ability-to-get-things-done/)

[Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/)

> [I've been looking at companies that are on a positive path vs. a negative path and I've come to use the language of sports,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/i-ve-been-looking-at-companies-that-are-on-a-positive-path-vs-a/)

[Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/)

> [Power stems from 'rainmaking,' as law firms put it: the ability to bring resources into the company.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/power-stems-from-rainmaking-as-law-firms-put-it-the-ability-to-bring/)

[Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/)

> [Leaders must pick causes they won't abandon easily, remain committed despite setbacks, and communicate their big ideas over and over again in every encounter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/leaders-must-pick-causes-they-won-t-abandon-easily-remain-committed/)

[Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/)

> [Companies used to be able to function with autocratic bosses. We don't live in that world anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/companies-used-to-be-able-to-function-with-autocratic-bosses-we-don-t/)

[Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/)

> [Everything looks like a failure in the middle. In neary every change project, doubt is cast on the original vision because problems are mounting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/everything-looks-like-a-failure-in-the-middle-in-neary-every-change/)

[Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/)

> [Confidence is not lodged in people's brains, it comes from the support system that surrounds them. Let's not confuse confidence overall with just self-confidence.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/confidence-is-not-lodged-in-people-s-brains-it-comes-from-the-support/)

[Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/)

> [During the Boom Years, it was so easy to lose sight of basic values. For example, there was lots of nonsense said and written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/during-the-boom-years-it-was-so-easy-to-lose-sight-of-basic-values/)

[Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/)

> [Winning becomes easier over time as the cornerstones of confidence become habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/winning-becomes-easier-over-time-as-the-cornerstones-of-confidence/)

[Rosabeth Moss Kanter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/)

[Explore all 111 Rosabeth Moss Kanter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/)

## More Achievement quotes

> [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/)

[Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/)

> [“If attempting to make the world a civilized one, makes you a bad woman in the eyes of the dumb patriarchal society, then, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/if-attempting-to-make-the-world-a-civilized-one-makes-you-a-bad-woman/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/)

> [One achieves true human dignity only when one serves. Only he is great who subjects himself to taking part in the achievement of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-antonio-primo-de-rivera/one-achieves-true-human-dignity-only-when-one-serves-only-he-is-great/)

Jose Antonio Primo de Rivera

> [Needs cause motivation. Deep-rooted desires for esteem, affection, belonging, achievement, self-actualization, power, and control motivate us to push for what we want and need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorii-myers/needs-cause-motivation-deep-rooted-desires-for-esteem-affection/)

[Lorii Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorii-myers/)

> [Each man is capable of doing one thing well. If he attempts several, he will fail to achieve distinction in any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/each-man-is-capable-of-doing-one-thing-well-if-he-attempts-several-he/)

[Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/)

> [It's tragic what America has become because there is a great segment of society that now resents luxury and success and achievement by others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-leach/it-s-tragic-what-america-has-become-because-there-is-a-great-segment/)

[Robin Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-leach/)

> [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/)

[Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/)

> [Joel Lane documents a life we don’t quite live, in a city we can’t quite find: half glimpsed and half imagined, we know it’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chaz-brenchley/joel-lane-documents-a-life-we-don-t-quite-live-in-a-city-we-can-t/)

Chaz Brenchley

> [The main substantive achievement of neoliberalism has been to redistribute rather than to generate wealth and income.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-harvey/the-main-substantive-achievement-of-neoliberalism-has-been-to/)

[David Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-harvey/)

> [Every profession has an ideology and a drive for power that goes far beyond its achievements and it is the task of democracy to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feyerabend/every-profession-has-an-ideology-and-a-drive-for-power-that-goes-far/)

[Paul Feyerabend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feyerabend/)

> [We have Internet now and people are not stupid. But it seems that some people are trying to push the same agenda of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bassem-youssef/we-have-internet-now-and-people-are-not-stupid-but-it-seems-that-some/)

[Bassem Youssef](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bassem-youssef/)

> [“If you find a way where there seems to be no way, that’s what we call miracle, not personal achievement.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nkwachukwu-ogbuagu/if-you-find-a-way-where-there-seems-to-be-no-way-that-s-what-we-call/)

[Nkwachukwu Ogbuagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nkwachukwu-ogbuagu/)

> [The Baseball Hall of Fame is something every player dreams about, but being a member of God's Hall of Fame is the greatest achievement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-carter/the-baseball-hall-of-fame-is-something-every-player-dreams-about-but/)

[Gary Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-carter/)

> [Cease speaking of enemies when an achievement can kindle a great light. Solitude will transmit the message better than the murmurs of crowds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-roerich/cease-speaking-of-enemies-when-an-achievement-can-kindle-a-great/)

Nicholas Roerich

> [Every scene is a challenge. There are technical challenges, but often it's the simplest challenge where you feel a sense of achievement when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-deakins/every-scene-is-a-challenge-there-are-technical-challenges-but-often/)

[Roger Deakins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-deakins/)

[Browse all 3,867 Achievement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achievement/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "People often resist change for reasons that make good sense to them, even if those reasons don't correspond to organizational goals. So it is crucial to recognize, reward, and celebrate accomplishments.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Rosabeth Moss Kanter"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/people-often-resist-change-for-reasons-that-make-good-sense-to-them/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Achievement"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/people-often-resist-change-for-reasons-that-make-good-sense-to-them/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f8/rosabeth-moss-kanter-4386_achievement_people-often-resist-change-for-reasons-t_2634719.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f8/rosabeth-moss-kanter-4386_achievement_people-often-resist-change-for-reasons-t_2634719.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f8/rosabeth-moss-kanter-4386_achievement_people-often-resist-change-for-reasons-t_2634719.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“People often resist change for reasons that make good sense to them, even if those reasons don't correspond…” — Rosabeth Moss Kanter",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Rosabeth Moss Kanter",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosabeth-moss-kanter/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "People often resist change for reasons...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/people-often-resist-change-for-reasons-that-make-good-sense-to-them/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosabeth-moss-kanter/people-often-resist-change-for-reasons-that-make-good-sense-to-them/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
