Abstract
Kurt Lewin described a stable situation as two sets of forces in balance. Some push toward change and some hold things where they are. While the two roughly cancel out, nothing moves, however much people talk about change.
The analysis lists both sides and gives each force a rough strength. The useful part is what it tells you about where to act. Pushing harder on the driving side tends to produce more resistance, while removing a restraining force often lets things move with much less of a fight.
Method
- 01
State the change
Describe the change you want in one sentence, with where things are now and where you want them to be.
- 02
List the driving forces
Write down everything pushing toward the change, such as a deadline or a cost you want to cut.
- 03
List the restraining forces
Write down what keeps things as they are. Habit is a common one, and so is fear of getting it wrong.
- 04
Score each force
Rate each force from 1 (weak) to 5 (strong). Rough estimates the group agrees on are enough.
- 05
Plan where to act
Start with the restraining forces you can weaken, then pick the driving forces worth strengthening. Give each one a concrete action.
When to use it
- A change was agreed months ago and still hasn't happened.
- You're planning a change and want to know where the resistance will come from.
- A group needs an honest shared picture of what's in the way.
Common pitfalls
- Only adding pressure. Pushing harder often makes the resistance stiffer.
- Listing people as forces. Write down what they're worried about or need, since that's something you can work on.
- Reading the scores as precise. They're there to compare forces and start a conversation.
- Ignoring resistance that protects something worth keeping. Sometimes the people pushing back are right.
Origin and references
Attributed to Kurt Lewin (1951).
- Lewin, K. (1951). Field Theory in Social Science: Selected Theoretical Papers. Harper & Row.
- Lewin, K. (1947). Frontiers in group dynamics. Human Relations, 1(1).