How To Be An Effective Change Agent (Without Exhausting Yourself)
Today we’re talking about how to be an effective change agent without exhausting yourself.
Let’s take a look at getting into empowered, sustained action that fuels you rather than depletes you.
I asked readers how the pandemic changed what's important to them. Here are some of their responses:
"Maybe I can live a much simpler life than I thought."
"Feeling grateful for the 'basics.'"
"Deeper conversations, sharing love and gratitude more freely."
"Money will come and go. I am less attached to my current money state and more confident that I can create what I want when I want."
"Less extraneous social events. More free stuff like NATURE!!! That’s the real blockbuster of life baby! Also, more energy and money donated to social causes. To what matters to my soul."
Day-um. As a career coach and minimalist, doing less of the should do's and more of the want to's is freakin' music to my ears.
Another big theme I heard from readers is prioritizing their role in social and societal reform and other large-scale change.
So let's look at how we can be true agents of change AND embrace all the beautiful themes of simplicity, peace, and ease referenced above.
Realizing that the daily treadmill is a distraction and not getting us any closer to a happy, healthy, just, and equitable society is a giant awareness that can only lead to more peace, happiness, and fulfillment...if we take action.
While we can all endeavor to “listen and learn” for the rest of our lives, let's also look for ways in which we can, in parallel, put that learning into powerful action.
You're busy...trying to excel in your career, doing your best to stay healthy physically and mentally, parenting, maybe even trying to enjoy your weekend…
That's why it's KEY that you take action in a way that is energizing and sustainable.
Usually I come at these questions from a coaching perspective. Today, I'm including perspective from my 20 years in Change Management.
There's so much to say on this topic, but here are 4 biggies to get you started being an effective change agent without exhausting yourself.
1. Get crystal clear on your end goal
What’s your ultimate objective? Signing petitions, reading, and marching are great, but if you don't know with crystal clarity what your ultimate goal is, it's more likely to be unsustainable and draining.
And it’s much harder to measure whether your effort is having the intended impact.
Protip: Make your goal personally meaningful. When you can see the difference this change would make for you, your loved ones, your teammates, your community, it’s a heck of a lot easier to take action.
So what's your end goal...Extricating yourself from your corporate handcuffs? Starting a community garden? Capping executives' compensation or tying bonuses to something other than quarterly earnings? Advocating for a 4-day work week? Better school board decisions? More equitable distribution of wealth? Healthcare reform? Prison reform? Housing affordability? Joining a union? Building a union? Diversifying your organization’s Board of Directors? Paid family leave at your company? Give more people access to [the thing you do]? Industry-specific reforms in...marketing, media, beauty, legal & law enforcement, government, education, real estate, financial services, art, STEM, healthcare...?
Hopefully you’re seeing it can be anything.
A friend of mine who self-identifies as Hispanic has decided to increase Hispanic engagement and literacy in local US elections.
Another friend banded together with her co-workers to lobby their COO for meaningful action in response to Black Lives Matter.
One of my goals is affordable healthcare. I’m going to call my federal representatives every single week, ask their positions on bills that matter to me, and advocate for more proactive transparency and communication from them. I’m starting with a particular health care bill and will likely expand that to include whatever else is happening. 🙃 I want my reps to know my name and expect my weekly call.
Don't get caught up in whether your goal is "lofty enough" or some other form of critique and self-sabotage that will keep you stuck. Size of your goal doesn't matter here; clarity of purpose is more important. You can build on it later.
ACTION: Write down your goal and its intended impact.
2. Align your actions with where you are right now
You're probably being bombarded with ideas of what to read, watch, donate, and do.
Instead of adding something else onto your already overflowing plate, look for opportunities where you are right now.
Who can you enlist in your cause who's already in your orbit? (Doing the thing with people you like and respect makes it fun and easy to do)
Who can you lift up on the social media you already consume?
How can you hire or contract with people differently?
What can you say to your manager, leadership team, and people you lead?
What workplace biases can you challenge?
Where can you intentionally shift your time and energy (e.g., looking at you, social media scroll bar)?
Where can you intentionally shift your spending for goods and services?
How could you shift your investment portfolio away from the companies you believe are causing the most harm?
Choose laser-focused, strategic action over action for action's sake.
ACTION: You are powerful. You can channel that power simply by bringing a little more intention to the daily choices you’re already making. Pick a north star based on where you are right now.
2. Big goal, small actions
Social movements address challenges that are big, knotty, and unlikely to change in a week. Sustainability is key.
Fifteen-ish years ago, I worked for a white male leader who held quarterly Town Hall-style meetings for our group.
When we did the Q&A portion, one employee would ask the leader why he had no women direct reports and what he was doing about it.
She didn't ask him once or twice. She asked him every single time in front of hundreds of people (over a period of years, as I recall).
Such a bold action didn't take up hours of her time or distract from her goals.
She simply held leadership publicly accountable repeatedly. (And it's likely she was taking other actions, too, because she had a clear objective: women in leadership.)
Over time, the white male leader made changes. And became a more vocal advocate of leaders who happened to be women.
I'm still thinking about it 15+ years later and hope others are, too.
The more you're able to take small steps over a period of time, the more likely you'll be able to develop a habit, and the more likely your actions will add up to real change.
ACTION: What are simple but meaningful daily, weekly, monthly actions you can repeatedly take in support of your north star and make part of your new normal?
3. Know when to walk away...and when to run
Focus on the people, organizations, and systems that are willing to move.
You've probably worked with that person who started in opposition to a goal, then became one of the best advocates.
Converts are some of the best change agents. Because once they’re bought in, they are BOUGHT IN. So if you think someone is truly open and willing to come along, great.
Don't waste time on outliers. Trying to convert your racist uncle or an organization that refuses to acknowledge its complicity (e.g., Facebook) is not the best use of your resources. (Continue shutting that uncle down, btw. Just because he won't change doesn't mean you or anyone else has to tolerate it).
At this point in the movement, organizations and individuals who don't own their role in perpetuating the status quo are probably not going to.
By all means, give it the old college try if the organization is truly a place you believe in and want to be. If it's not, I encourage you to train your precious talents and resources elsewhere.
An organization that supports others when they need it, will support you when you need it. Those that don't, won't.
ACTION: Identify the people and/or organizations you'll partner with and focus on in pursuit of your north star.
Reframe what it means to be a change agent for YOU
Being a change agent doesn't mean that you take all of the responsibility to change everything tomorrow.
It doesn't need to be a gigantic time commitment or distract from your goals.
You don't need to be a charismatic leader with the brand new, earth-shattering-all-in-one solution.
Being a change agent is about being intentional and strategic about your role in the change you want to see. It's about being as effective as possible in a way that’s aligned with YOU.
In the biggest transformational projects I worked on, changes took place not because of the person at the top (although that's important) but because of the influential people out in the trenches who engaged in small everyday ways.
You can see examples of this today playing out in public protests large and small, boycotting of companies (TSLA), and town halls.
I am heartened to see it when people reach out to me every day saying things like, “I will no longer work for a company whose only goal is to make shareholders richer.”
Meaningful, transformational change takes time. This is a marathon.
Especially if you're in the middle of a career or life transition, look for opportunities to Yes, And... so that you can do the work to effect change exactly where you are right now. Look at how to align your goals so they work in partnership with one another rather than against. Seek out ways to engage with issues that leverage your existing skills, interests, and experiences.
I know I can't have possibly addressed everything about this topic, so please post your questions and comments below. How are YOU planning to be an effective change agent?
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Author Bio:
Before becoming a coach, Caroline worked in management consulting and financial services. She's made it her mission to help people grow, contribute, and get wherever they want to go.
She’s also a tennis fanatic, aspiring Minimalist, FIRE (Financial Independence and Retire Early) enthusiast, and Aloha Spirit seeker 🤙. She loves to share stories from her unconventional life and career focused on freedom, creativity, fun, health, family, and community. If she can do it, you can, too.
The life and career you want is possible once you have the roadmap. Take the first step by downloading her free guide: 4 Steps To Take Back Your Life and Design a Career With Purpose.
