The Organizational Network Fieldbook: Best Practices, Techniques, and Exercises to Drive Organizational Innovation and Performance

9.1. Identifying Change Agents

Who influences you the most—a peer with whom you work on a day-to-day basis (and whose opinion you respect and friendship you value) or a superior you often do not see for days, weeks, and sometimes months at a time? The answer for most of us is both. We can never ignore that our boss maintains some degree of control over our destiny. However, it is also clear that accessible and valued peers have a considerable effect on our beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors.

Formal leaders and those in certain workflow positions are of course crucial to culture change. These individuals must be on board and engaged in any change program to signal its strategic importance and increase its visibility. People who are influential ...