The 10 roles of the Change Agent

So, you feel like an odd one out. You wonder why no one in the room can see the blinding obvious. What we should all be doing. But its the standard politics, or lack of accountability that seems to be stunting your organisations ability to head in the RIGHT direction (or the right one as you see it!) as opposed to the same old trodden path, which as we all know, will lead to the looming demise of many businesses and industries.

1. The Dreamer
You’ll need to think of quite illiogical possibilities, of seemingly odd pairings of ideas, of ideallic future states for the business that will require drastic transformation, yet seem impossible to ignore or aim for. You’ll need to articulate these visions in ways that non-change agents can understand, and sell the future, and the first step towards it.

2. The Strategist
You’ll need to formulate a way to get the right movement forward to align with the objectives of interested parties – like management, shareholders, etc. You’ll need to create both incremental change that adds to a large amount, or introduce ground breaking change that is too compelling to ignore.

3. The Agitator
You’ll need to be prepared to take a different view to those in the room, to put the mirror of the real world up to the face of the business, and show whats really going on. You’ll need to bring some harsh and simple reality to the table, and fight to get this heard. This may not prove popular. But not many change agents are, and rarely survive long.

4. The Networker
You’ll need a strong network across the business to simply survive, let alone thrive. But you’ll also need to use the network to get some of the less formal or traditional initiatives potentially happen. A seemingly random collection of people from across a business, sometimes called a multi-functional team, can achieve odd results when doing things ‘under the radar’

5. The Connector
You’ll be in a rare position that your new network will make you vital in creating connections across the business. When you hear about project A relates to topic Z, and so does project B, you connect the people together and become a key link in reducing double up in the business.

6. The Influencer
You’ll realise that agitation doesn’t always work, but given its your natural instinct to do so, its hard to play the game. Influencing others to make a positive change of direction will become a skill you’ll need to garner funds, resources, approval, etc.

7. The Designer
You’ll need to appreciate the finer craft of delivery, and of customer and user experience, as this will prove the difference in uptake in your ideas. A new idea packaged in a better way than others can manage means a better chance of success – just ask Apple about their iPod.

8. The Journalist
You’ll need the curiosity of the journalist – about every topic, in every field, in any time – as others will throw all manner of logic to rebutt your ideas. You’ll also find that this wide understanding of the world feeds your creative mind, and creates left-field thinking. And just like a journalist you’ll need excellent communication and writing skills!

9. The Project Manager
You’ll need to be very organised to get ideas flowing through, and people in line to assist you. You’ll need to show the business that you can create structure where they thought structure couldn’t exist.

10. The Deliver-er-er
You’ll need to produce the goods, deliver to market, and create customer response. This can take time, often means short term flame and pain, but in the long term must align to a change strategy.