Resistance to change and comfort zones

Fear as a defense mechanism

To lead an effective transformation in an athlete or team, it is imperative to understand the nature of human change.

Many athletes, despite wanting to improve their performance, are inhibited by a deep, unconscious fear of changing their routines.

Change involves entering unfamiliar territory, and the human brain is evolutionarily designed to prefer the security of the known, even if it is unsatisfactory.

It is common to encounter verbalized resistance such as "I have always been this way and it hasn't been so bad" or "this is the way I am".

These phrases are not immutable truths, but protective shields against the vulnerability involved in learning something new.

Resistance as a sign of progress

A fundamental concept in coaching psychology is that the appearance of resistance is not a sign of failure, but of incipient success.

Any impending change automatically generates an opposing force of equal magnitude; it is an almost physical law of the human psyche.

When an athlete starts making excuses, arriving late or complaining about a new methodology, it's proof positive that he or she is moving out of his or her comfort zone. It is the first real indication that the system is being forced to evolve.

The expert coach does not fight this resistance head-on, but recognizes and validates it as a necessary part of the growth process.

From rejection to deep understanding

Managing this resistance requires a change of role for the athlete and the coach.

We must stop acting as a "photocopier" that simply repeats old patterns without questioning them, and become a "scanner" that analyzes and understands the origin of these defenses.

We must listen to the resistance: What hidden benefit does the athlete obtain by not changing? What fear is he or she trying to avoid?

Often, the athlete does not change because the "present state" offers him a security (even if it is the security of complaint) that he fears to lose.

Coaching helps to identify the resources needed to move towards the "desired state" while minimizing the perception of threat.

The goal is to transform the energy that the athlete spends on resistance into energy available for action and technical improvement.

Summary

Change generates fear because it forces the brain to abandon the security of the known. Many athletes unconsciously resist modifying routines, using excuses as personal protective shields.

The appearance of resistance is actually a sign of progress and incipient success. It indicates that the athlete is moving out of his or her comfort zone, forcing the system to evolve.

The coach must validate this resistance to understand what fears or hidden benefits underlie it. By identifying these resources, defensive energy is transformed into positive action and improvement.