In the latest animated Q&A video from Harmonious Workplaces, everyone’s favorite workplace wisdom-sharer, Hermie the HR Hermit Crab, sits down with podcast voice Rich Cruz from The Harmonious Workplaces Podcast to tackle a common workplace dilemma: Why are people already resisting change—even before it’s fully explained?
Let’s break it down crab-style.
The Question:
“I’ve barely even started talking about an upcoming change and people are already resisting. What’s going on?”
This is a question many leaders and HR professionals have faced, and Hermie and Rich offer some thoughtful, research-backed insights.
The Brain Behind Resistance
Hermie explains that recent neuroscience reveals how people constantly compare new experiences to past ones—even when at rest. So, if your team has had a bad experience with change before, their brains will very likely expect the worst. That resistance doesn’t represent simply stubbornness—it may stem from self-preservation.
Key Insight: Resistance often stems from previous negative experiences, not the change itself.
What Can You Do About It?
Hermie delivers his advice with signature heart and humor:
- Stay Positive and Professional: Show your team that this change is different—and better.
- Tailor the Message: Understand your audience. Speak their language and connect emotionally.
- Repeat and Reinforce: People need time—and repetition—to absorb and trust new information.
- Use Multiple Communication Channels: Small group talks, explainer videos, memos & emails, infographics, or even a fictional character like Hermie to deliver the message with a smile.
Hermie’s Closing Thought:
“Make change your friend!”
Hermie the HR Hermit Crab gives us a reminder that how we frame change—and how we introduce it—can determine whether people fear it or embrace it.
Want More Hermie?
Hermie the HR Hermit Crab is more than just a cartoon—he’s a tool for team discussions, workshops, and change management conversations. Grab a copy of the Hermie book on Amazon and bring humor and heart to your workplace learning.
Lessons for Change Leaders:
- People resist change because of past pain—not future facts.
- Repetition + storytelling = trust-building.
- Use every tool in your box, even cartoons, to make your message stick.
Change doesn’t have to be scary. With a little empathy, some creativity, and maybe a talking hermit crab, you can help your people turn resistance into readiness.
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