From Scrooge to Change Agent

(Photo credit: John Leech [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons)

Leadership is about creating change that you believe in. - Seth Godin, Tribes

Last month, studied Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol which got me thinking about leadership and change.

Scrooge is taken on a journey to the past, present, and future by his old friend and business partner Jacob Marley. The opening lines of the story is "Marley is dead." Marley visits Scrooge in an attempt to do what he himself cannot do--change his ways before he dies.

Change is a hard thing for many of us to do, let alone accept. Leaders embrace change; but as humans, some of us fear change. We wish we had a Marley to show us what things were and what things could be. We have Marley's in our lives, but many of us don't engage them. We challenge you advance your leadership art by becoming an agent of change and be there for those within your sphere of influence.

As we look back on 2017 and face a new year, take a moment in the fleeting present to ponder a few questions:

• Who is the ghost of your past, present and future that provides the valuable insight you need for your leadership transformation? 
• What changes are on your horizon? 
• Will you embrace change or will you crawl into bed and seek refuge under the covers? 
• The past is done, but the future looms ahead. 
• Do you have actions that need a little redemption? 
• Do you have team members who need your attention? 
• What gifts can you share to help others?

The change we need (whatever we "need") starts with you.

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About the Author: Pam McDonald is a writer/editor for BLM Wildland Fire Training and Workforce Development and member of the NWCG Leadership Subcommittee. The expressions are those of the author.