Lewin's 3-Step Model Kurt Lewin, often credited as the "founder of modern social psychology," was one of the first to study group dynamics, action research, task interdependence, and organizational development. In the late 1930s and early 1940s, Lewin posited that behavior was a reaction to opposing forces (Lewin, 1948). According to his theory, an organization evolves through three stages: unfreezing, changing and refreezing. Analyzing opposing forces can push the balance toward change (Behavioral Change Theory, 2007). In the first stage, unfreezing, the organization must overcome the status quo, including individual resistance and group conformity. An organization can bring about this change by increasing the forces causing the change, decreasing the influences of resistance, or a combination of the aforementioned methods (Lewin, 1948). The second stage of Lewin's change model is change. This step transitions the group from the current system to the new condition. Baum states: “At some level, we are all resistant to change” (Baum, 2000). This resistance requires continuing to promote change and allay fears. Lewin encourages leaders to continue the efforts initiated in the first step (Lewin, 1948). The third step in Lewin's model of change involves refreezing the new equilibrium (Lewin, 1948). During this stage, leaders should work to prevent the organization from reverting to old ways. Individuals and organizations tend to fall back into what is comfortable instead of sticking to change (Behavioral Change Theory, 2007). Reinforcing new models and rewarding those who use the new model help to consolidate new behaviors. Dean Keith McFarland of the Pepperdine University School of Business compares change to a bouncing ball in his book Bounce. He imagines a hard ball as the most resistant to the impact of change....... middle of paper ......Satir, Virginia and Michele Baldwin. (1984). Step-by-Step Satir: A Guide to Creating Change in Families. Palo Alto, CA: Books on Science and Behavior. Satir, Virginie, et. al. (1991), The Satirical Model: Family Therapy and Beyond, Palo Alto, CA: Science and Behavioral Books. Snair, S. (2004). Leadership Lessons at West Point: Duty, Honor, and Other Management Principles. Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks, Inc. Szollose, B. (2010). Liquid Leadership: From Woodstock to Wikipedia – multi-generational management ideas that change the way we manage things. Austin, TX: Greenleaf Book Group Press. White, B.J. and Prywes, Y. (2007). The Nature of Leadership: Reptiles, Mammals, and the Challenge of Becoming a Great Leader. New York, NY: AMACOM American Management Association.