"We've always done it this way! It works fine!"

Sound familiar?

If you're a grad student, postdoc, or researcher, you've probably heard this when trying to update a protocol. Resistance to change is common in research labs. PIs can get extremely attached to methods they’ve always used. After all, they built their careers using them. And while it might sound a bit silly, it’s easy to get emotionally attached to methods.

When we immediately push back against change, it’s often a defensive reaction. We subconsciously hear it as a criticism of how we work, not just how the process works.

So, how do you get buy-in to purchase that new Western blotting machine you’ve been eyeing? Get strategic about it.

Acknowledge the Emotional Component: Your PI isn’t wrong. They’ve had success with the old method. Frame the upgrade as an optimization strategy, not a replacement. "We have a great method, so let's make it even better!”

Target the Lab’s Pain Points (Not Yours!): Why you want the change doesn’t matter. The real question is: how will it help the lab overall? Are experiments taking too long? Are there bottlenecks because only one person can run the assay at a time? Are you getting inconsistent results, leading to wasted time and money? I’ve never met a PI who didn’t want faster results and cheaper experiments.

Speak Their Language (Data & Funding!): When you present the idea, leave personal frustrations out of it. Instead, talk in terms of data and funding.

✅ Saves money (fewer failed experiments)

✅ Frees up time (faster workflows = more experiments)

✅ Reduces errors (more reliable data)

✅ Speeds up publications & grant applications

You might want to go home earlier, and a machine that cuts a 24-hour step down to 2 hours could be the answer, but your PI wants to hear about the impact on data, not your life (unfortunate, but true!).

Show Data, Not Just an Idea: Find someone who already has the equipment, run a side-by-side study, and compare the results with the current method. Real data beat theoretical benefits.

"Look at what we can do with this" is far more convincing than "Here’s what we could do with this."