Facing the Challenge of Change: Steps to Becoming an Effective Leader

This position paper makes the case that all leaders need to become agents of change. The steps to becoming a change agent are analyzed, including knowing one's organization, assessing one's leadership skills, gauging people's reaction to change, learning the process of change, and making a commitment to change. The author analyzes Fullan's model of the phases of change to provide a guideline to create the change process in a variety of settings. Current and future leaders will become reflective regarding how they can develop the skills necessary to meet the challenges of change from both an organizational and individual point of view.