Change Agent Skills
ACPA’s Presidential Taskforce on Sustainability Change Agent Abilities Required to Help Create a Sustainable Future
In order to be a successful sustainability change agent, an individual must have the following: 1. 2. 3. Knowledge of the environmental, economic, and social issues related to sustainability (understanding); A value system and self-concept to support and under gird the actions of a change agent (motivation); and Change agent abilities (skills).
Change Agent Abilities: The following is a listing of change agent abilities compiled from numerous sources. For ease of use, these sources have all been acknowledged at the end of this document. Change agents are: · Resilient · Optimistic · Tenacious · Committed · Passionate · Patient · Emotionally intelligent · Assertive · Persuasive · Empathetic · Authentic · Ethical · Self-Aware · Competent · Curious They can:
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Communicate ideas clearly, concisely, and precisely both orally and in writing Listen to others and incorporate their ideas and perspectives Accommodate individual differences (cultural, socioeconomic, global, etc.) in your decisions and actions and be able to negotiate across these differences. Engage in self-assessment, self-reflection, and analysis Reflect on what is happening to make meaning, gain perspective and understanding Engage in civil discourse and debate Mediate and resolve conflicts Analyze power, structures of inequality, and social systems that govern individual and communal life Recognize the global implications of their actions Span boundaries Challenge the status quo effectively when appropriate Creatively and collaboratively solve problems using critical thinking skills; search for “families” of solutions for complex multi-faceted issues Collaborate, network, develop alliances and coalitions, build teams Involve others, inspire and excite participants, engender support and commitment See the big picture and the larger goal
In order to be a successful sustainability change agent, an individual must have the following: 1. 2. 3. Knowledge of the environmental, economic, and social issues related to sustainability (understanding); A value system and self-concept to support and under gird the actions of a change agent (motivation); and Change agent abilities (skills).
Change Agent Abilities: The following is a listing of change agent abilities compiled from numerous sources. For ease of use, these sources have all been acknowledged at the end of this document. Change agents are: · Resilient · Optimistic · Tenacious · Committed · Passionate · Patient · Emotionally intelligent · Assertive · Persuasive · Empathetic · Authentic · Ethical · Self-Aware · Competent · Curious They can:
· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·
Communicate ideas clearly, concisely, and precisely both orally and in writing Listen to others and incorporate their ideas and perspectives Accommodate individual differences (cultural, socioeconomic, global, etc.) in your decisions and actions and be able to negotiate across these differences. Engage in self-assessment, self-reflection, and analysis Reflect on what is happening to make meaning, gain perspective and understanding Engage in civil discourse and debate Mediate and resolve conflicts Analyze power, structures of inequality, and social systems that govern individual and communal life Recognize the global implications of their actions Span boundaries Challenge the status quo effectively when appropriate Creatively and collaboratively solve problems using critical thinking skills; search for “families” of solutions for complex multi-faceted issues Collaborate, network, develop alliances and coalitions, build teams Involve others, inspire and excite participants, engender support and commitment See the big picture and the larger goal
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