Probably both! At Transworld we manage change every day in our client’s lives. Effective change in our client’s lives is our business and we get paid to do it.
But are you in your own life an agent of positive change? Do you embrace change, even cherish it? I do.
The definition of change agent “is someone who engages either deliberately or whose behavior results in social Change, cultural change or behavioral change.” I’ll add corporate and organizational change to the list.
President elect Obama ran a successful campaign based on the promise of positive change. Will it be as sweeping, positive, and impactful as promised? Probably not and it will probably will not be his or the new administrations fault, for there are many who resist or actually sabotage change.
Do you resist change, even positive change? In these times, you either embrace change or get run over by it. There is no doubt that you life in our business (and your 401k) has experienced, and will continue, to experience change.
So how will you handle change? Can you and your organization adapt and profit from it?
Buchanan & Boddy performed a study on the perceived effectiveness of change agents. On that basis, they compiled the fifteen most important competencies of change agents.
When reading through the noted skills, I can’t help but think of how these apply to my roles as new Chairperson of my association (IBBA), as CEO of my company, as a board member of a few charities, as an effective intermediary, and finally as a family man. Also, I can’t help but think how applicable these skills are to our world today. (Note that Bucanan & Boddy publish this list in 1992)
Note some of the traits of a good change maker. Sensitivity, goal setting, flexibility, team building, networking, tolerance, patience, communicative, enthusiasm, motivational, planning, visionary, conflict resolver, politically aware, influencer, global thinker.
Sounds like the perfect successful business person, and the kind of skills that will navigate you and or your company through any economic or political change. How do you acquire these skills? Simple, education!
But filling your head with ideas is not enough, you need to learn how and when to apply them. How do you do that, same way you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, Practice, Practice!
Where can you practice these change agent skills? Everywhere. But you must get involved. And there are many ways to get involved in positive change in your home, community, business, and industry. From things like home projects with family, joining a board or volunteering at a charitable event, strategic planning or simply surveying your own agents/employees in your own business, and lastly rolling up your sleeves and just doing it!!
I dare say have learned more from being a community volunteer, committee member, and board member than any schooling or class time ever taught me. It’s sometimes easier to be a leader of those who want to be led, than to be a leader amongst a group of leaders.
I challenge all of you to join me in being a positive, effective, educated and skilled change maker. We all need to take a role in our family, business, community and industry to assure our future. Above all you need to change YOUR life and take control of your future.
Buying or selling a business could be a great first step!
Andy Cagnetta
ac@tworld.com
Think about it, you’re gonna make millions selling WHAT??? Do the math how many beads, juice, vitamins, soap, online websites, adult toys do you think you and your downline can sell, make a margin on, and get profit to you? Hand me the smelling salts.