Change Team Roles
Role 2: human relations expert
Adept communicator who believes social connections are the key to solving problems.
the change agent as human relations expert
Change is all about people getting together and doing things together. Yet, a basic problem shared by nearly all systems is social connections: dysfunctional relationships that hinder members from solving problems because of poor internal communication and a lack of consensus or shared identity.
Being an Effective Human Relations Expert
Relationships among various actors are key ingredients of all successful change efforts. That much is obvious, but we need to break that down into specifics, starting with basic notions of what a “social system” really is and how it works. To be an effective change agent as Human Relations Expert, you need to understand these basics.
Is this a SYSTEM? Or Do We Have CHAOS?
The first question that a Human Relations Expert might want to ask is “Does this group of people really act like a system?” Such a “non-system” or chaos circumstance is the worst-case scenario but contemplating the non-system can clarify issues that stand in the way of constructive problem solving, regardless of the “problem” or the set of concerns that initiated a change action.
Where to Start?
The Human Relations Expert’s first order of business is broadly to bring people together, to make a system where there was no system. Four broad tasks stand out:
- Help them acknowledge their common history
- Help them resolve on specific actions to come together
- Help them to begin to articulate common goals
- Help them to develop a shared identity
Filling the HUMAN RELATIONS EXPERT Role on the Change Team
Here are questions to ask as you consider how to fill the Human Relations Expert role on the change team:
- Who do you see as part of the change team who has “relating” skills and understands the client system?
- Who has existing strong relationships within the client system?
- Who could be brought into the process to bolster relationships?
In what ways can you see yourself as a “Relator” or “Human Relations Expert”?
If not you, who could fill this role for you?
Change Team Roles
explore more roles
The Change Agent's Guide identifies 7 role types, each loosely associated with a stage in the change cycle.
Get the Book
The Change Agent's Guide is available in Hardcover, Paperback and Kindle eBook editions. Designed with full color illustrations in all editions, plus color tabs and a full index in the print edition, the guide is an easy to reference companion for your change journey.
READ SAMPLE CHAPTERS
Download a PDF that includes the table of contents and the first two chapters of the book.