Comments on: What is a Change Agent and Why Might You Need One

By: prsolutions

prsolutions — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 01:40:54 +0000

‘Blinders holding back the process’ is a huge challenge to overcome. Too often the expectation is to ‘just fix it’ until you explain what it will entail to ‘fix it’ and then comes the backpedalling and naysayers. The fallback position is to band-aid the situation. Band-aids are great for temporary situations – and there are a lot of temporary situations in business – but the vast majority need surgery and rehabilitation.

The vast majority of business leaders wouldn’t hesitate to seek outside advice for their own financial planning, personal fitness training, golf lessons, or tutoring for their children but will resist with all their might brining an outside consultant in to assist with their business. Often, if they do choose to bring one in, they want to own or manage or limit the scope of the work – “take a look at this but leave all that alone”. It’s a very interesting dynamic to witness and a challenge in itself to be a part of – selling a solution to the person who hired you to provide a solution is often the biggest challenge of all.

By: janinemoon

janinemoon — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 14:11:49 +0000

You've hit the nail on the head here, Marie, with really solid information on the value of change agents. If only the change process were as simple as many business leaders believe: tell them what will happen and (because I'm the boss) they will do it. It's usually a very painful process, being implemented by people with lots of skin in the game...so their blinders hold back the process. Your comments about the objectivity of someone from the outside (who knows what they are doing!) are absolutely right on and critical for leaders to understand.

I wonder how much time, money and discouragement could be avoided during a change process that is managed by a skilled, objective change agent who has alignment as the goal? I expect the numbers would be staggering!

Thanks for another great post!

By: prsolutions

prsolutions — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 01:51:12 +0000

Thanks Barbara! I love the challenge of working with businesses who need the outside, impartial perspective that is often critical in making much needed changes. We all, at times, get stuck in that place where you really can’t see the forest for the trees – asking for help shows strength, not weakness.

By: admin

admin — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 20:14:29 +0000

By: Barbara Wayman

Barbara Wayman — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:37:06 +0000

Great article, Marie. This is my favorite one so far. You so eloquently capture the essence of what your firm delivers and why companies need it. You truly are a change agent and the business world is better for it.