Six Stages to Acceptance
Progress can also be viewed as accepting the new, be it ideas, offerings or environment. Often this acceptance is not immediate or voluntary for habits or comfort of the familiar is tough to discard. While with minor changes the distinct stages of progress may not be visible, with major changes it is easy to see these six stages in both individuals and organizations as they respond to new ideas, people, or challenges. Each stage can be clearly linked with a corresponding behavior that reveals the state of the acceptance.
I. Rejection seen in Opposition: Unfamiliarity breeds fear or discomfort. An individual or organization in a position of comfort view any change to their status quo with suspicion. Often the opposition is not a considered choice but an instinctive reaction triggered by the fear of unknown.
II. Indifference seen in Ignoring: Once the initial opposition fades, indifference sets in. Energy is not expended in attacks, the belief is that by ignoring, the change will disappear. Dismissed as irrelevant, the new idea is not actively opposed but passively ignored, a diluted form of opposition.
III. Tolerance seen in Coexistence: Though not acceptance, it signals a truce, for it tolerates minimum presence and often patronized coexistence. Its presence is accepted as long as it does not disrupt the status quo. Often seen as a pilot project not scaled, or the new dish only “sampled”, the focus is to avoid conflict, without any commitment.
IV. Consideration seen in Evaluation: True acceptance begins with a positive effort of a fair evaluation of its merits. Investment follows, of time, effort and money. This is the stage where ideas are assessed for the full-fledged adoption, or change in habits, the gateway to acceptance.
V. Acceptance seen in Substitution: Acceptance post evaluation is seen in the new replacing the old. With benefits recognized, it is integrated into the lifestyle, reflecting different elements of its benefits.
VI. Advocacy seen in Recommendation: The final stage of acceptance is advocacy or recommending it to new audience. The initial opponent becomes its staunch advocate. The idea once ignored becomes the ideal.
These six stages are like a ladder. Each rung reflecting a deeper engagement. Be it a social change, a new tool or personal habit the journey from opposition to championing it is natural. The younger you are the faster you move. So, measure you age not by looking at the calendar but how quickly you climb the rungs. Youngsters often skip the initial few rungs! How young are you?
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