Lewin’s Force Field Analysis is a mixture of Gestalt and behaviourism. It is a tool that will help you to look at your current challenge and how it is affected by the wider world around it (aka the field).

Overview:

This is how you will work with this model.

  1. The Concept: Force Field Analysis is about looking at how a problem is influenced by your surroundings, environment, and current resources - External and Internal Forces.
  2. Consider Everything: Recognize that nothing operates in isolation. Environment shapes behaviour. Behaviour creates environment.
  3. Driving and Resisting Forces: Realize that various factors act as forces for or against change. Some push for change (driving forces), while others obstruct it (resisting forces). Often, fear of change is the most significant obstacle.
  4. Visualize the Field: Represent the change graphically. Assign scores to each influencing factor to measure their importance. Focus on what needs to be removed, not just added.

Let’s take a look at an example:

WORKBOOK - Force Field Analysis - example.png

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WORKBOOK - Force Field Analysis.pdf

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Here's an example of a Force Field Analysis for an individual going through a life challenge.

Let’s imagine a persona named Alex.

Let’s say Alex is experiencing five forces for change and five forces against the change, each ranked on a scale from 0 to 10 to indicate their significance.

Forces for change ➡️ ⬅️ Forces against the change
Supportive Family and Friends (Rank: 9): Alex has a strong support system in place, with family and friends who encourage and help them overcome the life challenge. Financial Constraints (Rank: 9): Limited financial resources present a significant barrier to addressing the life challenge effectively.
Personal Motivation and Determination (Rank: 8): Alex is highly motivated to address the challenge and is determined to make positive changes. Fear of the Unknown (Rank: 7): Alex experiences a moderate level of fear and uncertainty about the changes associated with overcoming the challenge.
Access to Professional Help (Rank: 7): Alex has easy access to professional guidance, such as coaching or counselling, to navigate the challenge effectively. Negative Peer Influence (Rank: 6): Some close friends or peers may not be supportive and could influence Alex negatively.
Desire for Personal Growth (Rank: 8): There is a strong desire for personal growth and a belief in the positive outcomes that can result from overcoming the challenge. Lack of Time (Rank: 8): Alex faces time constraints due to existing commitments, making it challenging to dedicate time to addressing the life challenge.
External Opportunities (Rank: 6): External opportunities, such as new job prospects or educational programs, are available and provide potential positive changes. Health Issues (Rank: 7): Health problems add an additional layer of complexity to the challenge, affecting Alex’s ability to address it effectively.

In this example, the total force for change is 38 (sum of forces for change) and the total force against the change is 37 (sum of forces against the change).

The analysis suggests that while there are significant barriers, the forces for change slightly outweigh the forces against it.

Conclusion? ↓

There is a possibility of successfully addressing the life challenge with appropriate strategies and support.

Instructions: