Empowering Your Team for Change
Cathie Leimbach • November 5, 2024
Have you ever felt like you were the only one trying to push your organization forward? It's a common struggle. But what if you could inspire a whole group of people to become champions of change?
That's where the "Three Es of Effective Change" come in. Let's focus on the second E: Empower.
Why is empowering a broad group of change champions so important?
- Role Models: When change-ready team members embrace new ways of thinking and working, they set an example for others to follow.
- Adoption: These role models can inspire and motivate their colleagues to adopt new behaviors.
- Positive Reinforcement: By highlighting successful behaviors, change champions can strengthen desired actions and discourage unproductive ones.
How can you do this?
- Identify Influencers: Look for people who have a strong influence on others. These might be managers, supervisors, or front-line employees.
- Provide Training: Equip these champions with the knowledge and skills they need to drive change.
- Give Them a Voice: Ask them to provide feedback to senior leadership on their progress on inspiring change and listen to their ideas and perspectives for addressing challenges along the way.
Remember:
- It's not just about communication: Change champions should also be seen as partners who can provide feedback and support.
- Be bold: Encourage your team to challenge the status quo and take risks.
- Create a tipping point: Even a small group of change-ready committed individuals representing a cross-section of the company can significantly impact the entire organization.
By empowering a broad group of change leaders, you can create a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Rosabeth Moss Kanter, a respected professor at Harvard Business School, has spent her career connecting the dots between leadership and economic innovation. Her work shows that developing strong leaders doesn’t just benefit companies—it creates ripple effects that boost entire communities and economies. Effective leaders encourage teamwork, spark innovation, and help their organizations adapt to change. That kind of forward-thinking leadership attracts investment, drives productivity, and supports long-term growth. Kanter believes leadership isn’t a soft skill—it’s a strategic asset. She famously said, “Strategic leadership is an economic resource,” reminding us that developing talent is more than an HR initiative—it’s an engine for prosperity. But good leaders aren’t born overnight. Building strong leadership takes training, mentorship, and a commitment to continuous learning. And when businesses and governments make that investment, the rewards show up as better jobs, stronger institutions, and thriving local economies. Kanter’s research is clear: the path to economic progress starts with leadership development. If we want innovation and growth, we need people equipped to lead with vision and impact. 👉 Want to explore this connection further? Check out: How Good Leadership Helps Innovation and Growth
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