How to Manage Psychological Reactance: Accommodate Autonomy

It’s essential to treat the people you collaborate with as autonomous agents.

For example, if a new process will be implemented at work, give your team the opportunity to provide their thoughts and suggestions. This way, it will feel less likely freedom is being taken away, and more like power is being given.

Research even suggests that threatened individuals who feel powerful free themselves from the threatening situation and manage to reorient themselves.