Read: Leadership for Change: Enduring Skills for Change Masters (pages 475 – 493) and discuss the seven skills and their importance to cultivating change masters in organizations. Describe the optimal skill master role from your point of view and provide specific examples for each skill.

We all need to change in one way or the other. The change process is not simple therefore other people who are going to be affected in some way from this process must be accompanied and communicate to. There are 7 skills of a change master that can help you become better at bringing useful changes in a meaningful manner (Jick & Maury, 2011). Following is a description of these 7 skills necessary to learn for a change master.

Sensing Needs and Opportunities: Turning in to the Environment

A manager has the responsibility to sense what needs of a specific environment are and what are the opportunities that exist that can be managed to lead towards the solutions that correspond to these needs. For example if there is a situation during the implementation of a project where the local people are against it due to some concerns. The manger should identify these concerns and then look for plausible solutions to address these concerns.

The manager should look at the capabilities of his employs and assess the reasons if they are performing less according to their capabilities. Then measures should be made to make corrections to the organizational environment, if necessary to let these employs reach their best output capacity.

Kaleidoscope Thinking: Stimulating Breakthrough Ideas

Einstein once said that “we cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them”. A manager must be able to think out of box and encourage out of the box thinking among other employs who are a part of the tasks or projects they are trying to implement and complete. Creative thinking and objective reasoning should be incorporated to the decision making process of the organization.

Setting the Theme: Communicating Inspiring Visions

Let’s assume that a leader has a great vision. That leader needs some people who can understand the vision and convert it in to reality. But what if the leader fails to properly communicate that vision to the followers? I don’t think that that would be able to accomplish any goals effectively and efficiently. A leader must be able to listen first and then be listened to. To dream and them accomplish is not true unless you can make others dream it. If a leader is wise enough to let the followers understand the vision or dream, there would be less obstacles in achieving the goals associated with the vision or dream.

Enlisting Backers and Supporters: Getting Buy-in, Building Coalitions

It is pertinent to understand the actual minimum support system required to accomplish a goal. The resources that are needed to accomplish goals have to be identified on time before implementing a plan. A change initiative is dependent on a proper plan. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. An announcement can be made regarding the action plan and then people who seem to be interested and in favor are to be identified. An attempt has to be made to minimize resistance to change by reaching out to those who are opposing.

Developing the Dream: Nurturing the Working Team

The working team as the most important part of bringing change and accomplishing goals. The working team has to be listened to. Their needs are to be met to the best possible level. The working team has to be taken in confidence at every level. They have to be made partners in the dream not just some resource that are utilized to achieve organizational goals.

Mastering the Difficult Middles: Persisting and Persevering

Goal achievement is a process that might confront many unexpected obstacles. This is the duty of the manager to make arrangements that these obstacles does not result in a compromise to the goals. There are many who would have an unending critique of what you are doing. They need to be managed so that the goals can be successfully achieved.

Celebrating Accomplishments: Making Everyone a Hero

We all are humans. When I complete a small task, I need a cup of tea to celebrate it. The same is the case with the workforce. When they accomplish a goal, they need to celebrate it. This has to be something bigger than just a cup of tea. A goal accomplishment party or some form of personal benefit to the workforce would be great.