Becoming an Agent of Change

Once upon a time there was a girl named Bethany. She loved music and got her dream job at a top 5 music record label. Bethany started on the bottom but had big ideas. She would share her ideas, however, the people at the top were afraid to try new things, and her ideas would vanish into managerial bliss. Bethany started to figure it out - the people at the top had been in the industry a long time liked the way they have always operated. New marketing such as social media and embracing community like Olafur Arnald was risky. Bethany decided she had two options. 1) watch her company downward spiral into the ground or 2) remember that this was her dream job and become an agent of change to make things happen. Bethany chose #2.

The following are steps for Bethany to become an Agent of Change

1. Gain trust and respect - Do small unrelated things all the time to show that you can get things done successfully and efficiently. This could be as small as ordering lunch or planning a program/speaker.
2. Take responsibility - Organize your world so the person who has to give you room does not have to take responsibility. In today's economy people want to hold on to their job and do not want to take a risk on new projects. How can you make it so the responsibility and risk of the project point to you and not your boss?
3. Communicate vision - Talk honestly about the goal of your project. Start a blog, write a manifesto, create a weekly update. Whatever you do, make sure to share it with your team and throughout the company. As your project gains momentum and creates success, the more people will want to help and be associated with it.
4. Be modest - Give other people credit for your successes. You have to boost their ego to make things happen. Create the feeling that, "If things go wrong you can point to me. If things go right, we can point to you."

Good luck Bethany, I know you will make a difference!