what is a change agent

A change agent, also known as an agent of change or change advocate, is a person who promotes and enables change to happen within any group or organization. A change agent serves as a liaison between an organizations leadership that sponsors a change initiative and the people affected by the change. They help articulate reasons for the change, answer questions, and persuade others on the necessity of the initiative. They also raise concerns to the attention of leadership and ensure that change happens successfully. Change agents can be managers or employees, or external consultants hired to facilitate initiatives. There are two types of change agents: internal and external. Internal change agents are employees within the organization, while external change agents are outside consultants or third-party change practitioners with relevant expertise to drive change initiatives. The responsibilities of a change agent include analyzing the risks involved, weighing the pros and cons, and ultimately creating a compelling case for the change to happen. Key activities that a change agent performs include promoting, championing, enabling, and supporting an organization’s change implementation. Change agents focus on people and the interactions between them, inspiring and influencing key individuals to make the changes necessary for the transformation, including changes to their desires, attitudes, and behaviors.