Becoming a Change Agent for Sustainability Michael A Kane Associate Dean of Sciences & Mathematics Energy Technology Program Director Sierra College Presentation for This Way to Sustainability CSU, Chico March 1 st, 2012

What is a change agent? radical, a pest or a parent A person who changes/moves the culture and behavior of an organization to a more sustainable place by facilitating sustainable changes (this doesn’t happen overnight). A person who doesn’t accept the status quo or the mythologies that things are impossible to change for the better or that we’ve tried this before so it won’t work.

What is a change agent? A change agent recognizes the opportunity for change, identifies the best approach, becomes a catalyst and facilitates that change whether by design, planning or inspiration ~ Kevin Hulett

Change is not welcome

Essential Knowledge and Skills You must understand both institutional and personal priorities. In most organizations typically the driver is the personal priorities of those individuals who wield the most actual power within the organization. Most of us do not think specifically about power in our institutions, so as an exercise identify the five most influential people in your organization.

Essential Knowledge and Skills It is also helpful to do this exercise for the people who have power on paper as well. Like the rest of the organization you also have both personal and positional power. The key question you need to ask yourself in relation to your own personal and positional power is what do you have actual authority over and what do you need permission to do?

Where are the resources? Remember money is not the only resource time, support, people, materials, marketing, buzz and even rumors and gossip can be resources

Planning Effective Change Have a dream. Analyze the topography of your organization. Determine the power structure. Develop a multi-level plan. Assess your positional and personal realities. Try and identify obstacles at each level of your plan.

Planning Effective Change Determine what resources you have. What allies do you have in the pursuit of making your organization or community more sustainable? Developing allies you don’t already have. Don’t worry about who gets credit.

There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn't mind who gets the credit ~ Robert W. Woodruff

Implementing Effective Change Have a clear and reasonable agenda. Grab an ally and go get that low hanging fruit. Start climbing the hill. Give people what they need, to get what you want. Overcome the inevitable obstacles to change.

Implementing Effective Change Analyze your goals and progress. Making change permanent and sustainable.

What to do once you’ve succeeded Always brag about what you have accomplished. Celebrate and make new dreams!

Work hard, Rock hard, Sleep hard, Grow big, Wear glasses if you need ‘em! ~Webb Wilder Last of the full grown men

Thank you Michael A Kane -