How do you develop the skills and competencies of change champions?

1 Identify potential change champions

The first step is to identify who can be your change champions. You want to look for people who have influence, credibility, and enthusiasm in their roles and relationships. They don't have to be formal leaders, but they should have a positive attitude and a willingness to learn and adapt. You can use various methods to find your potential change champions, such as surveys, nominations, interviews, or observation.

2 Assess their readiness and motivation

The next step is to assess how ready and motivated your potential change champions are to take on the role. You want to understand their current level of knowledge, skills, and confidence in relation to the culture change goals and expectations. You also want to gauge their interest, commitment, and passion for the change. You can use tools such as self-assessments, feedback, or coaching sessions to help them evaluate their readiness and motivation.

4 Empower them to act and innovate

The fourth step is to empower your change champions to act and innovate in their roles and contexts. You want to give them the authority, autonomy, and resources to implement and experiment with the change. You also want to encourage them to share their ideas, feedback, and best practices with others. You can use mechanisms such as recognition, rewards, or incentives to motivate and empower your change champions.

5 Connect them with each other

The fifth step is to connect your change champions with each other and create a network of support and learning. You want to foster a sense of community, collaboration, and mutual trust among your change champions. You also want to facilitate the exchange of information, experiences, and insights among them. You can use platforms such as online forums, social media, or communities of practice to connect your change champions.

6 Monitor and evaluate their performance

The sixth and final step is to monitor and evaluate the performance of your change champions and the impact of their actions. You want to measure and track their progress, achievements, and challenges in relation to the culture change objectives and indicators. You also want to provide them with constructive feedback, recognition, and support to help them improve and grow. You can use methods such as surveys, interviews, or analytics to monitor and evaluate your change champions.