[Blog] Becoming a Change Agent

As coaches, we have the unique role of stepping into people's lives at a moment of need or opportunity. They have come to us because they want help navigating the turbulent waters of change, and we have the privilege of launching them into the future. To be an effective agent of change...

Always preserve the reputation of the past. All change represents a critique of the past. That's why it's so important that you frequently praise friends or clients and all the work they did. Their success is your heritage.

Move slowly. Take time to know each person. Learn their history. It can be a valuable ally in moving them into change.

Rally broad-based support for change. Don't expect everyone to support your friend or client's changes. Opposition may come from expected sources (such as people who have already been critical) or unexpected ones (a spouse or friend who prefers the status quo). As a coach, you can provide a strong dose of realism about the process and the cost of change, and you can be a rock of support through it all.

Change is painful, so be ready to walk them through the pain. There will be many bad days during the change process.

Challenge those you coach to come up with their best ideas. Treat every idea with respect and become their biggest cheerleader.

Challenge and empower every person you coach. Never be satisfied with the minimum acceptable level of quality from them. "Just getting by" doesn't cut it – for them or for us.

Occasionally look back at the progress they have made. They need to be aware of how far they've come as well as how far they still have to go. Give them an opportunity to look back and say, "Can you believe that? Look how far we've come together!"

By the nature of how coaching begins, coaches are in a one-up position. People come to us because they need help, and they trust us to provide the help they need. Being in a position of authority gives us an identity as "the one people count on," and it provides an adrenaline rush that feels really good. But we lead by serving, we treat people with honor and respect, and we "think more highly of others than of ourselves." If we don't understand this perspective, we'll use our knowledge and skills to "fix" people, maintaining our one-up position.

Each time we answer a call, each time we hear someone's story, and each time we ask powerful questions to clarify someone's direction, we need to remember we're servants... first, last, and in between.