- Change Management
Principles of change: Importance of advocates
- The Resources Group, Inc.
While change is a fundamental necessity for growth and transformation, we need to understand, implement, and manage change more quickly and more effectively, especially in relation to people. Companies are becoming more aware of the importance of change management to assist people in working through and accepting change, helping them become more change agile.
As TRG Agency partners with organizations to develop their change competency, we need to keep in mind core principles and understand how to address them effectively.
In the fifth and final part of this five-part series, let’s talk about the important role of advocates or followership.
Before moving on, be sure to check out the other installments of this series on change principles.
Followership is where change happens
If you look at any good leader and the key thing that sets them apart is the people around them. No matter what, a leader’s words, strategy, and direction only go so far without the right advocates or followers. This is especially true with change: Followership is where change happens.
More and more organizations are starting to recognize the power of advocates (just look at how brands mobilize social media influencers). In reality, people are followers more than leaders; however, characteristics can be the same. Each role is just as important as the other in creating a movement of change.
Qualities an advocate should have
Effective advocates are individuals who are proactively engaged with change and display the courage to take on responsibility, challenge direction, participate in the transformation, and in the end serve a more significant cause than just their day-to-day work. In the end, followers should act as a resource for other employees, and they need to help the leader be effective as well.
Here are some qualities a follower should demonstrate:
- Active participant and highly engaged
- Self-managed, proactive
- Independent, critical thinker
- Adaptable
- Trustworthy and committed
- Courageous and honest
- A team player
Cultivating followers as advocates
Advocates want both their leaders and their colleagues to be honest and competent. But what separates followership and leadership is leaders also need to be forward-thinking and inspirational. Followers don’t want to be controlled; they want to be inspired and motivated. Leaders also need to create an environment that brings out the best in their followers. Leaders can enhance the abilities and contributions of followers by:
- being transparent and provide clarity to direction,
- giving honest, constructive feedback that is timely and focuses on the future,
- and providing coaching to help develop specific skills or achieve developmental goals.
End of the Principles of change series
This concludes our five-part series on change. Change is multidimensional. Focusing on the people, the workplace, creating a connection, building trust, and cultivating advocates will significantly improve your success no matter how big or small the change or transformation.
Of course, if you’re going through change or transformation, TRG Agency can help. Reach out to us to see how we can help you and your organization.
