Being a Change Agent

Change management is the new requirement for leadership success. Business

leaders today need the circular vision to see around, beneath, and beyond the
obvious to drive changes that improve performance, increase profi ts, or otherwise
contribute to sustained growth and success.
Anyone who has the desire to become a catalyst at work can assume the role of the
“change agent,” a ti tle given to the individual who undertakes the task of initi ati ng
and managing change in an organizati on. Change agents have the drive, vision, and
skill to facilitate the adopti on of major strategic initi ati ves that can upset routi nes
and business processes.

 Qualities and Characteristics of Highly Effective Change Agents

Understanding how change agents think, act, and behave can help you develop the
atti tudes and qualiti es needed to help lead your organizati on through change.
 
 Flexibility – While change agents need to be disciplined in their approach,
roadblocks and evolving prioriti es are par for the course during transiti on
periods. That’s why change agents need the fl exibility and creati ve insti ncts to
respond to unforeseen challenges that arise.
 Pati ence – Organizati onal change does not happen overnight, which is why
eff ecti ve change management leadership requires enormous pati ence and
perseverance on the part of the change agent.
 Intenti onality – Change agents must be diligent if organizati ons are to
complete a strategic initi ati ve on ti me and on budget. Every acti vity relati ng to
change management must be intenti onal and clearly contribute to the adopti on
of the new way.
 Confi dence – Change agents need to have confi dence in others to deliver,
but also confi dence in them. Leading individuals or teams through change can
cause tension and stress, so agents of change need confi dence in their vision as
well as confi dence in their role as mentor, facilitator, leader, etc.
 Communicati on – Communicati on is one of the key acti viti es for change
agents. They must get the appropriate message to the right person in a way that
moves them towards the desired vision. Good communicati on eases tension and
encourages buy-in among fence-sitt ers and “holdouts” (people who fi ght change
every step of the way).
 
Growth and Development as a Change Agent
Project management, decision making, team building, process mapping — these are
just a few of the skills a change agent must have.  
 Level 1 – Accepts Need for Change
The Level 1 change leader is able to identi fy, describe, and persuasively defend the
need for change within an organizati on. At this level, change agents are able to
create an open and recepti ve environment to minor change initi ati ves when given

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 clear directi on and support from more experienced change leaders within the
organizati on.
 
 Level 2 – Defi nes/Initi ates Change
The Level 2 change leader is also able to identi fy, describe, and persuasively
defend the need for a change, but can defi ne a specifi c area where change is
needed and identi fy the exact infl uence points for change in specifi c work
processes, habits, structures, etc.
 
 Level 3 – Manages Change
Level 3 change agents ensure project success through the implementati on of a
well-defi ned communicati on strategy, refi nement of work and organizati onal
design models, and facilitati on of staff development initi ati ves.
 
 Level 4 – Manages Complex Change
The Level 4 change leader expands on the change management competencies of
those at Level 3 to create a strategic course of acti on for specifi c individuals,
teams, or departments in relati on to the cultural dynamics of the current state of
an organizati on.
 
 Level 5 – Champions Change
The Level 5 change leader publicly challenges the status quo by comparing it to an
ideal status or vision of change. These strategic change leaders support dramati c
acti ons to drive dramati c organizati onal changes. Level 5 change agents are
capable of revoluti onizing organizati ons.

Prof. A. R. Somroo
Department of Education
Govt. Emerson College, Multan