So You Want To Be A Change Agent…

Not just anyone can be a change agent – it takes a certain set of skills, behaviors and attitudes to take the lead in a change initiative.  And, by take the lead, I am not only talking about the executive leadership. I am also talking about the unofficial leader on the front line who decides to step up. Being a successful change agent doesn’t depend so much on successful managerial experience as it much as it depends on a certain attitude. One has to be excited by the unknown and become best friends with chaos:
“Success will come to those who love chaos — constant change — 
not to those who attempt to eliminate it.” 
– Tom Peters, Thriving on Chaos

The most successful change leaders become the change: “an unconventional outsider who becomes the physical embodiment the desired culture” -John Kotter and James Heskett, Corporate Culture and Performance

There is always an unspoken, naive expectation from my clients that I will hand them a book with 10 steps to successful change.  It doesn’t work that way because every change initiative is different, and it is the pathfinder who gets this job done. They not only find new ways of doing things for problems that have never happened before, but they have to build the path to do it and get others to join in.   It takes an enormous amount of time and effort and the pathfinder can even find himself or herself at odds with the boss because management can want both continued excellent performance while at the same time expecting new ways of doing the job which always means taking risks and making mistakes.

The pathfinder is the most exciting person to watch and work with in the change initiative. The pathfinder is a risk-taker, perseveres against all odds, not easily offended, comfortable with little or no direction, knows how to get around, go under, and move through obstacles and loves solving problems. These are the brilliant heroes who get to build a new railroad and are expected to take care of the old one.  If you are a pathfinder, here’s a pat on the back  – you’re doing a great job!