Force Field Analysis is a structured decision-making tool originally developed by psychologist Kurt Lewin. It helps teams and individuals assess the forces for and against a proposed change, making it easier to evaluate whether the change is viable and what might need to shift to support it.

What Is Force Field Analysis?

At its core, Force Field Analysis views any situation as a balance between:

• Driving Forces: elements pushing toward change
• Restraining Forces: elements resisting change

When both sets of forces are mapped out and weighed, decision-makers can better visualize what actions are necessary to successfully implement change — whether it’s a new policy, a team restructure, or a personal habit.

Steps to Conduct a Force Field Analysis

1. Identify the problem — Clearly describe the change you want to make.
2. Define the situation in terms of:
   • Where you are now (current state)
   • Where you want to be (desired state)
3. List the driving forces — what supports the change?
4. List the restraining forces — what is preventing change?
5. Prioritize — underline or highlight the most influential forces.
6. Plan action — for each:
   • Driving force: How can we strengthen or maintain it?
   • Restraining force: How can we weaken or remove it?
7. Sequence your actions — plan the steps in order of impact and feasibility.
8. Reassess — check if each step contributes toward your goal and if you have the needed resources.

Visual Example

Trainer Tip: When conducting FFA with teams, use sticky notes on a whiteboard for each force. This keeps it visual and collaborative.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Listing vague or overly broad forces
• Skipping prioritization of forces
• Focusing only on restraining forces without boosting the driving ones

For more structured decision-making techniques, see our article on Problem Solving & Decision Making.