Bill--
as a self-confessed agent of change, I would like to know where this
obligation to change others comes from? Is it a personality trait (a
species-evolved trait among a relatively small number of people)? Does
the fact that I "feel" an obligation tell more about myself than it does
about the people I want to change?
It's possible that this need to make change simply reflects that we are
part of this world...a system where change is a characteristic of life.
Perhaps it reflects our god-state, or our divine spark (or our need to
"monkey around").
But being a change agent is less than I wish to be, and more. I would
prefer (and hope I am to some extent) to be a change rider, like a surfer
who rides waves or a sky diver who rides the air currents. Change riders
manage themselves in a risky, ever changing environment...they need to
understand the environment, to develop skills and learn to use the tools
that allows them to minimize risk and optimize not only survivability, but
thrivability (controlled excitement!).
I don't care to just go around making others into myself or recreating the
world into the model I've adopted or devised (which is too often the role
of change-agents).
It does seem to me, though, that there's a great deal of need for skilled
change riders who have the ability to coach others, and share the skills
and experiences they have acquired, to help novices and students
experience the thrill of riding the waves of organizational change. I
know that many of you who read this are people who manage change, and who
coach and teach others to "embrace" change, just as the surfer or sky
diver embraces the surf or sky.
You know how important shared purpose, commitment and shared values are
for the community, family and organization that wants to ride the waves of
change and remain intact.
Others of you combine this skill (to manage change) with the ability to
provide new tools (just as surfers make new surf boards, or sky divers
make new types of 'chutes) so that you can manage change in a different
way, or attempt to create new and desired outcomes.
walk in peace,
Doc
-- "A mind once stretched by a great idea or new understanding will never fully return to its original dimensions." William JamesThresholds <http://www.thresholds.com> Meeting Masters <http://www.thresholds.com/masters.html> Richard Charles Holloway - P.O. Box 641, Long Beach, WA 98631 Voice 360.642.8487 ICQ# 10849650
Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>