---
title: "Treat Resistance as a Valuable Signal"
source: "https://virtualddd.com/heuristics/treat-resistance-as-a-valuable-signal/"
authors: ["Paul Rayner", "Andrew Harmel-Law", "Kenny Schwegler", "Andrea Magnorsky"]
tags: ["conflict management", "psychological safety", "sociotechnical systems", "facilitating software architecture and design"]
type: "guiding heuristics"
question: "How should we react when team members push back against a proposed design or practice change?"
submitter: "Paul Rayner"
---

# Treat Resistance as a Valuable Signal

View resistance not as an obstacle to overcome, but as a resource providing critical information. Instead of pushing back harder, investigate the source of the resistance to understand underlying concerns, threats, or misunderstandings. This exploration is key to finding a viable path forward together.

## Examples

When a team is reluctant to adopt a new technique, do not just insist on its value. Instead, ask why they are pushing back to uncover if they feel threatened, do not understand, or have a valid alternative perspective.