Written by: Vickie Sullivan | August 20, 2024
2 Simple Tactics to Transform Resistance into Support
Popular, controversial topics elicit strong opposition that feels impossible to turn around. However, there’s a simple but effective approach you can use that moves past those emotional mountains. I learned about it while watching a presentation at the Global Empowerment Meeting 2024.
The panel discussion focused on what works to advance gender equity. Equimundo CEO Gary Barker, one of the panelists, discussed his research on the male perspective.
Mr. Barker gave the bad news up front: The current generation of men are less supportive of gender equality than their fathers. Key quote: “The me-too movement may have set up different legal standards but didn’t win hearts and minds.”
2 Tactics to Sway People Resistant to New Ideas
The good news was Barker had a practical approach to transforming these folks into allies. Here are two tactics we can use to get more buy-in from resistant people:
• Find the story. Instead of making someone the villain, Barker drilled down on the story men tell themselves. His research found that young men aren’t opposed to women having more rights. They are asking, “What about me?” Then he used practical examples such as unequal paternity/maternity leave policies that added credibility to those concerns. We can use that one-two punch when describing folks who oppose our recommendations.
• Make the solution simple and specific. Barker’s suggestion was simple: Use small on-the-ground moves to show men they are needed. For example, inviting dads to attend neonatal care doctors’ appointments. his hopeful approach shows light at the end of the disagreement. It focuses on the little things that make a big difference.
It’s popular to villainize the resistance, to question their motives, and to downplay or ignore their concerns. What really works is simple yet counterintuitive. To promote change, we must go beyond defending (and bashing) and create a rising tide that lifts all boats.
Listen: How to Weaken Resistance
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