Day: February 27, 2021

1. Answer the question of my classmate’s respond base on what I wrote
My post:
Achieving the desired change

I agree with Elizabeth Kolbert that facts don’t change our minds. This is mainly because people perceive facts are always intended to prove them wrong or contradict their beliefs and behaviors. A person or community’s behavior is a deeply rooted practice that cannot be changed in one instance but rather gradually.  As a communication leader, it is important to use strategies that do not seem as a threat to the existing norms to achieve the desired change. This can be done in the following ways.

First, you can influence change by building on common ground rather than trying to prove others wrong (David, 192). Proving others wrong often fails as people clash with your ideas instead of embracing them. For example, telling mothers that science has proved vaccination prevents autism will be trying to prove them wrong; rather, you can tell them that vaccination protects their children from future deadly diseases is effective as it does not oppose their current beliefs.

The second method is through avoiding threats when implementing a change (David, 194).  Threats bring fears among individuals, and to counter this, they will be aggressive to maintain the status quo. However, using positive strategies such as offering rewards often triggers the brain’s “go” response, and the desired change can be achieved. Lastly, we can drive the desired change by letting the people have more sense of control. Issuing orders for people to follow in achieving an organizational change leads to an anxious and demoralized workforce. This often leads to retaliation. To counter this, give the individuals a chance to advise on how to undertake the desired change; this increases the sense of participation, and they are listened to hence making them happier in undertaking the duties.

My classmate’s question for my post:
I really liked reading your post, it was informative and well researched. My question to you is that if we are to provide incentives for people to change, would it not create a culture of passing gifts just for favors?

Again it is something to think about it, I am not disagreeing with your method but I am trying to get a different perspective on it. How would refrain from making it a company policy? Are only higher-ups allowed to give employees incentives such as bonuses?

Just want to know your thoughts

Work cited

Nadler, David A. “Managing organizational change: An integrative perspective.” The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science 17.2 (1981): 191-211.

Respond my two classmate’s post and ask a question in each respond
1. I agree with the statement that facts don’t change our minds. You can’t change things what people believe they are truths. People will reject and ignore the facts that are heresy to their beliefs. To change persons mind, I believe we have to start form their point of view. We have to use their beliefs to change them. Let them believe the facts actually come form their beliefs. For example, working in a group, as a leader, I want to start doing things differently. I have to know my partners well. Understanding their beliefs and how the beliefs come are important before doing things. By knowing them, I could change them from their point of view. Using the ideas that they believe they are truth to convince them will let them feel that they are not listen to me, in fact they are following their beliefs.

2. After reading the New Yorker article “Why Facts Dont Change Our Minds”; I do agree with the statement that facts don’t change our minds. The main reason for this outcome is due to human’s perception of reality. We are a complex creature; our culture, education, and religious background affect and limit our perception of reality. In the article, Steven Sloman’s illusion of explanatory depth (Kolbert & Konnikova) provides us a very well-term explanation of the ignorance and arrogance of human nature. Individuals are limiting in knowledge, no one can understand everything. When we don’t understand something, we tend to seek professional help. The internet has changed the way people seeking knowledge; the filter of good and bad information is lost in this digital age. I personally think there is too much freedom for information flow. Humans are stubborn creatures, and once we accept bad information, it takes a lot of work to accept correct information.

I completely agree that once a person made up their mind, the facts won’t change it. It requires communication skills to fix their mind. My grandmother made me understand this fact at a very young age. My grandmother was a very stubborn old lady, one of her hobbies is going to the hospital and get a physical examination. She always believes there is something wrong with her body’s internal organs; even the doctor has told her that she is in perfect health for her age. My mom is anxious about her going to the hospital every other week, so she decides to have a family meeting and present to her all the facts that she is healthy. But my grandmother just won’t accept the fact, to this day my grandmother still thinks she sick. I know this story might sound unreal, but I guarantee you it is the truth.

I think my verdict is that if a person will not accept facts and decide to live inside their own reality, there is not much you can do about it.