Curtis Cannon of the City of Oxnard – Different Roles of a Change Agent
Curtis Cannon served as the Community Development Director in the City of Oxnard for several years. He graduated with honors with a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of La Verne, La Verne, California. A change agent who seeks to implement organizational change has to wear various hats. They need to demonstrate extraordinary flexibility and possess a broad range of skills. Here are some of the roles a change agent will be expected to play in an organization.
Detective
Implementing changes in an organization is not as straightforward as other executive activities. The change agent has to deal with the attitudes and behaviors of different people, which usually requires digging below the surface to properly understand the dynamics of the company or organization. The change agent will have to look for signs that show what is preventing the organization for changing so that he can help remove obstacles and hindrances and bring about change. The change agent has to be observant and analytical in order to come up with steps that can help the organization change.
Advocate
Every organizational change agent has to play the role of an advocate and speak in favor of the changes that are required to be implemented. They will need to gain support from key players in the organization to implement the necessary changes. The change agent will need to be persistent with the elements of change.
Counselor
The change agent will need to encourage and counsel individuals to change their behaviors, attitudes, and activities. Change always creates mixed emotions, and the change agent has to work with individuals to stabilize their emotions and help them move out of their comfort zones. He will have to take into consideration personal implications of those who are involved. The change agent acts as a counselor who listens and encourages.
Facilitator
The change agent is a facilitator and is experienced in finding ways to help individuals change. They are experienced in clarifying the change and making it easier to implement it. As a facilitator, the change agent will need to design forms, tools, systems, and enable individuals to change and succeed. He will have to be creative and helpful to facilitate an easy transition in implementing change.
Curtis Cannon, former City of Oxnard, Community Development Director has had several years’ experience in being a change agent for various government and other organizations.
Curtis Cannon City of Oxnard 