Being the Change: What does it take to be the catalyst for change?

A catalyst for change is a person or action that drives forward the successful execution of key tasks to enhance performance and bring about positive impactful change.

The drivers behind this catalyst are usually management and mentor executives who are responsible for the implementation of the business strategies. The strategies themselves are derived from the outcome or goals to be achieved. This acts as a trigger to drive results and motivate the team in accordance with the aligned company objectives. As an executor, there is a personal agenda and motive which can influence the way we think, lead, and communicate with our team. This bias can limit our ability to think outside the box, blurred by the task at hand. This is why it is so important to have an independent driver with no specific department or functional goal, to remain objective and open minded in finding the best path forward.

Let’s consider the characteristics of this role; trust, curiosity, flexibility, inclusiveness. To be the catalyst for change you must first observe the business or team as a unit to understand how it operates functionally. Then peel back each layer, department, role to gain insight into how things really function at the ground level. It is the foundation that supports the structure of the business and identifying the strengths and weaknesses at this level will reveal the cracks in need of repair. Sometimes these cracks are evident and sometimes further effort is required to reveal such cracks. Trust is a the key to unveiling what lies beneath the surface.

Gaining the trust of the team will create an environment for sharing and engaging on difficult topics to remove barriers and get to the source of those cracks. The objective is to build transparency, identify the issues, and work with the team solve them. Curiosity will enable you to ask the tough questions and empathy will help you to hash things out on the table and welcome constructive dialogue. This is the birth of the catalyst for change.

Being receptive to this change depends on the appetite for flexibility. How change is presented, perceived, and propagated will greatly influence its impact. This may be a new start-up concept or an enhanced business process, but how this change came about, why it is needed and what problems it aims to solve, is what really matters. Communication will play a vital role in getting everyone on board with this change, but flexibility will be the deciding factor on whether this change comes is adopted or not. Business goals may be fixed but the strategies themselves and methods of implementation should remain flexible to necessary change that will increase the likelihood for success.

Flexibility on a personal level, usually varies depending on role, age, experience, but the successful execution relies heavily on the combined efforts and coherent strategies across all business operations. A strong focus on inclusiveness and engagement with all levels of the company will invite collaboration in creating strategies that represent the company overall. Welcoming input from all departments will create cohesion and personal attachment towards achieving the vision.

Emotion can be a catalyst for change because of the triggering effect. Building an emotional attachment towards achieving a vision creates a sense of responsibility and motivation. We as humans respond better when we understand ‘why’ something matters, why this change has come about, why my actions are vital to its success and why this will benefit me professionally and personally. The clear communication of ‘why’ will greatly reduce the risk of resistance and negativity towards adopting change.

So, what does it take to be the catalyst for change?

An independent and unbiased driver whose role is to observe the operations of a business, build a trusting environment to ask tough questions, invite dialogue from all levels of the company in a collaborative effort to create an environment that’s flexible, receptive, and proactive to change.

Basically…a good human who listens, is objective and gives a damn!