Why Being An Agent Of Change Helps Connect Us
Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash
Seasonal changes are upon us and as we welcome in the crisper, cooler weather, it seems fitting that this month’s newsletter focuses on change, and more specifically, how to be an agent of change.
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, an agent of change is defined as “a person or thing that encourages people to change their behavior or opinions.” In my executive coaching work, as well as my work in group coaching and team development, we touch upon this theme as it relates to building human connections and finding commonalities, in order to rise together. I speak with my clients about how we can build a sense of community by being an agent of change, by acknowledging those who paved the way before us and ultimately continue the work to pave the way forward for those after us. We can forge a path together, each of us bringing a unique perspective from our international experience, making an impact on a global scale.
In chatting about this topic recently at a roundtable with global international executives, they reflected on how they became an agent of change in their careers and the impact it has had, both personally and professionally.
Having worked mainly in Latin America and the US, Loren noted that being an agent of change was a “learned skill for me… The way I did it came from a place of curiosity, what it means to be different, and looking at similarities as well. It has been uncomfortable, but the more courageous and curious I have become, the more intentional and influential I became. Language is something that we take for granted, dialects and words within Latin America differ. Learning nuances planted seeds to learn not to be offensive in the public space. Evolving deeper dialogue within cultural exchanges.“
Rihab touched upon this further, noting “Early on I was labeled as a rebel, which was uncomfortable for me as a woman and a woman of color. This had a negative impact initially and I was steered away from working on certain projects. But it was also positive because it forced me to question the norms. Labeling me as someone who did not follow norms, this is where I became an agent of change. I wasn’t trying to be an agent of change, I simply am myself and people around me move around this.”
We discussed authenticity and being open and curious about others, looking to break down barriers and our bias. Yuying shared more about how she’s working with this, “I believe in starting with myself vs thinking to change others, having expectations that you will change things for people. This shifts when you will change people's differences.”
Elena could relate and shared that she had also been growing her awareness around the “range of human experience and understanding all the parts that are in conflict. Spend time looking at what emotions are in play. Most times people have emotional responses first. Address that emotion when your own emotions are overriding your system. Creating the container where people can express how they feel has been a game changer. There is a bit of coaching there, releasing the emotional charge first and then switching to logic."
Rajaa shared with us the day that she realized she had become an agent of change, “Four or five years ago, when I was senior director of marketing in a beauty company, I was getting ready to leave, after many accomplishments. I had a team for the first time bigger than 10 people. A team member left me flowers and a card that read: Thank you for making those of us unseen feel seen and heard where we never did before. The fact that I was able to give her a platform made me realize what it meant to have a purpose in someone else's life and this is being an agent of change.”
Elena beautifully summed up our discussion by sharing “We are exposed to so much human experience. Being an agent of change is exactly that: Human experience. Being myself in that space. Examples of cultural assimilation as well as my own ability to stand out in my own personal world... How to connect with each other... More often it’s about being curious and embracing our differences.”
By being agents of change, we are bringing a certain level of disruption simply by showing up and being ourselves. Understanding that deeply within us is what we are looking for and looking to accomplish in our lives.
How do you feel being an agent of change helps connect you to others? What unique aspects do you bring to your role, which might ultimately pave the way for a colleague? Drop me a note, I’d love to hear more from you.
To Your Success,
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Take Action and Put it into Practice
Take a moment to journal more about being an agent of change and reflect on the following:
How are you already an agent of change in the various areas of your life?
For yourself? Your family? Your work organization and the various communities you’re part of?
What are the strengths and challenges of being an agent of change as a multicultural leader?
I’m always curious to learn more - if you’d like to share your thoughts, please send me a note.