Businesses and Organisations need many change agents, not just the usual few appointees.

Perhaps the greatest challenge business leaders face today is how to stay competitive amid constant turbulence and disruption.

To move faster and further, you need to pull more people than ever before into the strategic change game.

A want-to and a get-to—not just a have-to—mind-set. You cannot mobilise energy and brainpower unless people want to be change agents and feel they have permission to do so. The desire to work with others for a shared purpose—energises a high performing team.

Businesses and Organisations need many change agents, not just the usual few appointees.

People have been writing for at least 20 years about the increasing speed of business and the need for organisations/businesses to be quicker and much more agile. But who has been able to pull that off??

We still have much to learn. Nevertheless, the organisations/businesses that act now by developing their senior leaders/managers and future leaders to be change leaders and change agents, will see immediate and long-term success—for shareholders, customers, employees, and themselves. Those that lag (have leaders who won't step up and learn new skills) will suffer greatly, if they survive at all.

Who Is a Change Agent?

A change agent, also known as an advocate of change, is a person who acts as a catalyst for the change management process. They help an organisation/business or part of an organisation/business, transform?how?it operates by inspiring and influencing others. A change agent will promote, champion, enable, and support a business's?change implementation.

One of the main issues with change is developing the skills and techniques to implement and execute the change - the picture (on the header of this article) shows that there are a number of steps Managers/Future Leaders need to complete, to successfully execute a change initiative.

Responsibilities of Change Agents

Key activities that a change agent performs include:

• Communicating how change is beneficial for both the organisation/business and employees.
• Listening to the involved team members and employees to gain feedback and incorporate it in the implementation process.
• Understanding employees’ reactions to change and reducing resistance to change. ?
• Actively engaging with employees by conducting change management exercises. ?
• Encouraging and supporting employees to become change champions and promote it.
• Identifying and leading other change agents?to success.
• Providing feedback on challenges facing the change management lead.

Engine Room Business Innovation 'Change Agent' Manager Acceleration Program is suitable for?Managers/Future Leaders?that are:

1) Ideal Change Agents?– They are driven, and eager to learn new skills and techniques to implement positive change within the business. Keen to be surrounded by like-minded individuals (change agents from other businesses/industries), who are also passionate and committed to continuously improve themselves and the business – towards a sustainable future.

2) Keen to move to a senior leadership position?–?However, they need to gain the?‘macro business’ skills and knowledge?within the business/industry. They need to learn the techniques to remain disciplined and focused in delivering an impressive Business Improvement Project (business change initiative/innovation (non-operational)) - that will move the business to a better future.

3) Keen to move to a leadership (Manager) position?-?However they need to develop the ‘soft skills’?(+ understand the importance of individual wellbeing) that is required now and, in the future, to enable them to drive a high-performing team.?

Employees are attracted to those businesses and organisations who have leaders (Business Owners, General Managers and Senior Leaders) that are continually learning and developing their 'change leader' skillset.

You must speak to their genuine desire to contribute to positive change (change agents) and to take an organisation/business via strategically smart ways into a better future. This will provide greater meaning and purpose to their work.

Download our Change Agent Brochure here

To find out more about our Change Agent and Change Leader Programs go to www.engineroombi.com or contact me for a skills audit for your business/organisation