Wired to Resist: The Brain Science of Why Change Fails and a New Model for Driving Success

by Britt Andreatta

“Illustrated by real-life examples and evidence from renowned scholars and practitioners, Wired to Resist provides novel insights into understanding why efforts to change often fail and—more importantly—how they can succeed.” —Barry Posner, PhD, New York Times best-selling author of The Leadership Challenge

“A must-read for business leaders and HR professionals. In this constantly changing world, it’s critical to find leadership strategies that realistically address the human side of change. Dr. Andreatta offers a fresh look at the nature of resistance with a clear path to overcoming it. I couldn’t put it down.” —Erin Earle, VP, HRBP for Engineering, LinkedIn

“I’ve read many books on leading organizational change and I appreciate how Dr. Andreatta gives me insight into the ‘whys’ behind the ‘hows.’ Wired to Resist arrived just as I was launching a new change initiative in my organization—and it immediately showed me several things I needed to address to increase our chance of success.” —Kevin Goldsmith, Chief Technology Officer, Avvo

“Making a simple change in our behavior can be the difference between success and failure, but so often we quickly go to our default position and don’t know why. Dr. Andreatta unlocks the puzzle and guides us with proven scientific steps to help us shift to positive outcomes every time we tackle a new goal.” —Jacqui Burge, Founder, Desk Yogi

Every year failed change costs billions of dollars. We are biologically wired to resist change: it’s the key to our survival and the obstacle that often gets in the way of us fulfilling our potential. Wired to Resist provides a new understanding of our biology and why change fails, despite our best plans. Dr. Andreatta synthesizes the latest research into a new model for change that harnesses the power of neuroscience and shows you how to thrive and lead through all kinds of change.

Drawing on her unique background in leadership, psychology, education, and the human sciences, Dr. Britt Andreatta has over 25 years of experience consulting with individuals, businesses, government agencies, universities, and nonprofit organizations. She creates powerful solutions to today’s personal, organizational, and global workplace challenges.

Genres: Business, Professional Development, Nonfiction, Psychology, Self Help

174 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 15, 2019

About the author

Dr. Britt Andreatta is an internationally recognized thought leader who uses her background in leadership, neuroscience, psychology, and education to create science-based solutions for today’s workplace challenges. Britt is the CEO of Brain Aware Training and former CLO for Lynda.com (LinkedIn Learning). She has over 10 million views worldwide of her online courses and she regularly consults with organizations on leadership development and learning strategy. Britt is the author of several best-selling books on the brain science of success including Wired to Grow, Wired to Resist, Wired to Connect, and Wired to Become. In 2022, she was named a Top 10 Influencer in Learning, and in 2021, she was a Top 20 Learning Influencer and a Top 20 HR Influencer for Leadership Development. To learn more visit:

Britt Andreatta Official Website
Connect with Britt Andreatta on LinkedIn
Follow Britt Andreatta on Twitter

Reviews

[Lola · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short, easy to read book that packs a lot into 137 pages. Much of it is familiar as the author cites many well known authors and leverages the wisdom of other change management experts into her own synopsis and change model. But I really enjoyed the neuroscience links to change and human behavior and felt that it provided a lot of context to some of the turmoil our country is experiencing currently.

I certainly agreed with many of her observations in business change and especially appreciated the "Change fatigue" models and could have really used those a few years ago. I really felt that reading this was valuable although there were few "Ah Ha!" moments. I would recommend that anyone beginning a change process give it a quick read to refresh on the basics and adapted change models she presents.

[Jana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since I do organizational change consulting for a living this is the perfect book to help me explain to people why changes that seem as though they should be easy, are not. Andreatta explains the neuroscience that makes adapting to change difficult, then she explains the organizational issues that make it difficult and finally she describes both the type of challenges and the various responses people have to them. Reading this book will make anyone who is a project manager or in any management position much better at their job.

[Dave H · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read for work. It should be more clear that the author does not have a PhD in brain science, or any hard science. There isn't much actionable material here - I suppose that is by intent, to encourage you to buy the other books, and I suppose that places this in the 'influencer' category of business book. Is Tyler Cowen right when he says that the best business books are not business books?

[Nix Siren · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book on how humans go about living through and managing change. I absolutely reccomend it.

[Lisa Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid intro to the neuroscience of change turns into advocacy for her consulting practice. Quick read.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Small book with a good explanation of WHY we resist change (or sometimes just "certain" changes), HOW we respond differently (and why again), and some great tips for predicting that resistance and WHAT to do to minimize and ideally prevent it to face change with excitement.