When you start talking about change, the concept of inertia strikes your mind.

Imagine a tennis ball which is coming toward you at a considerable speed , you would need some force to stop it and similarly , imagine the amount of skill and effort needed to get a ball moving.

Human behavior is perhaps similar and needs skilled effort to change it.. Change is inconvenient for many , however there are some facilitators or enablers and some restrainers. Once we identify and address these, we will find momentum in acceptance of change ideas.

Having a positive attitude towards change could be one of the enablers. And the first thing to accept would be the fact that there is a problem which needs a change in attitude.

Those who have a positive attitude and believe that the change would bring a favorable outcome are much more likely to change that those who do not. If I believe that administering oxytocin to a woman immediately after childbirth would reduce the amount of bleeding and my mind links it with favorable outcome of the patient, I am more likely to institute the change. Facilitating this positive attitude, identifying champions and building on their experience, promoting their ideas would most likely build the momentum.

Intention to Change would also depend on ability to change- thus comes the role of imparting procedural skills, practice and mastery so that the stakeholders are empowered to explore this ability, apply it to practice and fulfill their intention to change.

The thing is, in our minds there is no difference between actual inability to change versus perceived inability to change. Thus “if you don’t think you can do it, you can’t” adage has a scientific basis.

If you perceive an action to be difficult, then chances are you won’t even try. This strongly recommends followup sessions to not only build ability ( skills) but reinforce it time and again to ensure confidant behavior

Thus, inertia can be worked at through two different angles, facilitating enablers and addressing recalcitrance and resistance