--- title: "Change Leadership Roles: Which Ones Are Critical for Your Team?" description: What makes an effective change leadership team? We assess the change leadership roles your organization should implement and who's best to fill those roles image: https://blog.beingfirst.com/hubfs/Blog_Images/Creating%20a%20Change%20Leadership%20Team-%20What%20Roles%20Are%20Critical%3F%20Change_Leadership_Roles-531671-edited-2.jpeg --- [![Being-First-Official-Logo_175x162v2](https://blog.beingfirst.com/hs-fs/hubfs/social-suggested-images/Being-First-Official-Logo_175x162v2.jpg?width=175&height=162&name=Being-First-Official-Logo_175x162v2.jpg "Being-First-Official-Logo_175x162v2")](http://Being%20First,%20Inc.) [![Being First, Inc.](https://blog.beingfirst.com/hubfs/BF%20Logo.svg "Being First, Inc.")](http://Being%20First,%20Inc.) 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[Our Team](https://beingfirst.com/about#team) - [Affiliates](https://beingfirst.com/affiliates) - [Contact Us](https://beingfirst.com/contact-us/) - [DEVELOPMENT](https://breakthrough.beingfirst.com/) - [Upcoming Events & Programs](https://breakthrough.beingfirst.com/event-calendar/) - [Free Webinars](https://breakthrough.beingfirst.com/webinars/) - [All Courses](https://breakthrough.beingfirst.com/course-directory/) - [All Resources and Tools](https://breakthrough.beingfirst.com/resources-tools/) - [Executive Retreat Center Rental](https://beingfirst.com/center/executive-retreat-center-rental/) - [About The Center](https://breakthrough.beingfirst.com/) - [BLOG](https://blog.beingfirst.com) - [PODCAST](https://beingfirst.com/askdrchange/) - [JOIN OUR COMMUNITY](https://breakthrough.beingfirst.com/register/breakthrough-membership) # Change Leadership Roles: Which Ones Are Critical for Your Team? by [Dr. Dean Anderson](https://blog.beingfirst.com/author/dr-dean-anderson) | Aug 22, 2016 You're an executive, and you’ve come up with brilliant ideas to transform your organization into a better, more successful company. Now, all you have to do is enact these major changes and your organization will be better for it. But wait - who will lead this change? [Unclear change leadership](https://blog.beingfirst.com/6-symptoms-of-poor-change-leadership) can lead to confusion in roles, governing structure, decision-making, resourcing, timeline, prioritization, and conflicts with daily operations. ## Who Should be Placed in Change Leadership Roles? Your first thought might be that you’re the best candidate for the job. After all, you came up with the ideas and have the most passion about this new direction. You know what it takes to run a successful business, and you have years of experience running operational initiatives. However, you may not be the best person to head up this major change initiative. [Governing large-scale change](https://blog.beingfirst.com/creating-effective-change-governance-for-your-change-initiative-whos-in-charge-of-what) requires clear and careful planning, as there are critical roles that must be staffed with the right people. Your role may certainly be to [sponsor](https://blog.beingfirst.com/developing-executive-change-leadership-knowledge-and-skills) the change, but beyond that, others should take over. For all the critical change leadership roles, those filling them must have the time, energy, attention, and skill to devote to the change as a top priority. [Leading change](https://blog.beingfirst.com/3-behaviors-stunting-your-performance-as-a-leader) from the margin never suffices. ## What Makes an Effective Change Leader? They [must understand the business strategy](https://blog.beingfirst.com/co-create-your-transformational-vision-statement-with-vitality-and-purpose) and how their initiative supports its execution. They also must understand the organization’s strategic goals and how the change strategy can help deliver them. They should be a people-person, with effective communication and listening skills. They should appreciate the value and necessity of early and robust stakeholder engagement and communications, and should be more of a “co-creative leader” than a [“command and control leader.”](https://blog.beingfirst.com/3-behaviors-stunting-your-performance-as-a-leader) They should be “process thinkers,” meaning, that they should orient to how things will unfold over time in a contiguous, integrated fashion, rather than be jumping from isolated event to isolated event. They must see how all the variables in your change effort connect, and be able to manage that complexity as it unfolds over time. And equally important, they should have credibility with other leaders and be respected in the organization. Choosing such leaders sends a critical message that “this change effort is important.” ## What Change Leadership Roles Should You Implement? There are several roles that are typically necessary to support successful organizational change: **[Sponsor](https://blog.beingfirst.com/top-five-best-practices-of-an-executive-sponsor):** the highest ranking executive in charge of the change and its outcomes; responsible for [setting up and supporting the conditions for success](https://blog.beingfirst.com/top-five-best-practices-of-an-executive-sponsor) **[Change Process Leader:](Up-Level%20Your%20Change%20Consulting%20Skills:%20Go%20Beyond%20Change%20Management%20to%20Change%20Leadership)** person ultimately responsible for ensuring that the change process is [designed and implemented successfully,](Up-Level%20Your%20Change%20Consulting%20Skills:%20Go%20Beyond%20Change%20Management%20to%20Change%20Leadership) from start to finish **Change Leadership Team:** responsible for navigating the strategic change process as it unfolds over time so it delivers the optimal change solution while engaging stakeholders and their commitment; led by the change process leader **Change Initiative Leads:** leaders of workstreams and/or sub-initiatives within an overarching effort; leads those change project teams **Change Project Teams:** responsible for the success of workstreams and/or sub-initiatives; ensures the best change solution is designed and implemented so adoption and sustainment occur **[Change Consultants:](https://blog.beingfirst.com/strategic-change-center-of-excellence)** internal or external advisors to all other change roles; [educates; raises issues early;](https://blog.beingfirst.com/strategic-change-center-of-excellence)ensures cultural and human elements are addressed adequately The exact job responsibilities outlined above will vary depending on your particular organization and [the scope of the change](https://blog.beingfirst.com/change-sponsorship-best-practices-planning-full-project-scope) that you wish to implement. However, it is important that each person involved understands their change role and their specific responsibilities, who has what decisions and how they will be made, and how they are to interface with everyone else. With all this clear, things get done and change has a much better chance of success!   --- ###### Related eBook: ## The Ten Key Strategies for Leading Transformation ![10 key strategies for leading transformation-1](https://blog.beingfirst.com/hs-fs/hubfs/10%20key%20strategies%20for%20leading%20transformation-1.png?width=200&name=10%20key%20strategies%20for%20leading%20transformation-1.png) Through 40 years of observing and supporting large-scale change and transformation in Fortune 500, government, global NGOs and public service organizations, we’ve identified these ten Best Practice strategies for leading transformation successfully. Please complete the form to download your eBook:   --- ###### Related Webinar: ## How to Build Leadership Commitment to Transformation In this on-demand workshop, we explore how to ask for, generate and nurture leadership commitment. The answer is not what you think, but it will radically improve your ability to get leaders committed. Developing this skill is one of the ten key strategies for ensuring success in any organization's transformation. ![](https://fast.wistia.com/embed/medias/dwl891vkge/swatch)   ---     [![Learn the HOW of Transformational Change](https://hubspot-no-cache-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/518489/e4d6cdfb-c900-479f-8190-e6efed885d72.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-na2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/518489/e4d6cdfb-c900-479f-8190-e6efed885d72) - - - - #### About the author Dr. Dean Anderson [Follow me on my website](https://www.beingfirst.com/about/meet-our-team/dean-anderson/) [Follow me on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/deanandersonbeingfirst/) Dr. Dean Anderson is an international speaker, bestselling author, and strategic advisor to the C-Suite. For forty years, Dr. Anderson has been guiding visionary leaders of America’s Fortune 500 companies, government agencies and global non-profit organizations to transform themselves and their organizations to Achieve Breakthrough in business results, culture, leadership, and executive team performance. Dean is the co-founder of Being First, one of America’s most innovative transformational consulting firms, and a co-creator of Conscious Change Leadership, an advanced Body of Work that integrates personal and organizational transformation. Dean received an honorary doctoral degree from Brandman University for this pioneering work. Dean co-authored two cutting edge books that have become classics in the field of organizational transformation: Beyond Change Management: How to Achieve Breakthrough Results through Conscious Change Leadership, and The Change Leader’s Roadmap: How to Navigate Your Organization’s Transformation. He and his co-author, Dr. Linda Ackerman Anderson, have published over 50 articles on human performance and organizational change, and are the co-developers of The Change Leader’s Roadmap Methodology. Topics:   [Leadership](https://blog.beingfirst.com/tag/leadership) ,   [Culture](https://blog.beingfirst.com/tag/culture) ,   [Conscious Change Leadership](https://blog.beingfirst.com/tag/conscious-change-leadership) ### Related posts [The Power of Using Wake-Up Calls to Anticipate and Navigate Change](https://blog.beingfirst.com/power-of-wake-up-calls-to-navigate-change) [Navigate Complex Transformation Waters with the Change Leader's Roadmap](https://blog.beingfirst.com/navigating-complex-transformation-with-the-change-leaders-roadmap) [The "Bless and Delegate" Change Sponsor: A Predictable Threat to Transformation](https://blog.beingfirst.com/the-bless-and-delegate-sponsor-transformational-change) [Unlocking Transformation: The Power of Conscious Change Leadership](https://blog.beingfirst.com/unlocking-transformation-the-power-of-conscious-change-leadership) [How to Reduce the Chaos When Launching Change: Conditions for Success](https://blog.beingfirst.com/reduce-tchaos-when-launching-change-conditions-for-success) [![BF_Logo_White_180101-088547-edited](https://blog.beingfirst.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Logos_BF_2018/BF_Logo_White_180101-088547-edited.png?width=218&height=150&name=BF_Logo_White_180101-088547-edited.png "BF_Logo_White_180101-088547-edited")](http://Being%20First,%20Inc.) *Equipping leaders with the ability to solve complex challenges and catalyze transformation in themselves, their organizations, communities and cultures.*   #### USEFUL LINKS - [Upcoming Events & Programs](https://breakthrough.beingfirst.com/event-calendar) - [Courses](https://breakthrough.beingfirst.com/course-directory/) - [Resources & Tools](https://breakthrough.beingfirst.com/resources-tools/) - [Contact Us](http://beingfirst.com/contact-us) FOLLOW US [Follow us on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/BeingFirstInc) [Follow us on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/1200498) [Follow us on Twitter](https://twitter.com/beingfirst) SUBSCRIBE NOW Get the latest thought leadership, tips and tools on Conscious Change Leadership and achieving personal and organizational breakthrough direct in your inbox.   [SUBSCRIBE](https://info.beingfirst.com/cs/c/?cta_guid=746227c4-10bb-44b3-87fc-aa89eaa44c62&signature=AAH58kGvd0y5ngmSIUjPolyhT7-L9Ezz6A&placement_guid=5ff782ce-4828-4519-a8c9-b1dad9acb13c&click=4ce2b898-a5cb-4ecc-b062-daa60aca3fb7&hsutk=6f6ef3c22aad9de47e9351d0f82de550&canon=https%3A%2F%2Fbreakthrough.beingfirst.com%2F&portal_id=518489&redirect_url=APefjpEttadornAKsRWEoOak-oqp31EyN4Q_dmtQLdEDMtXYlolW7x4Ez4XdRbq49Et_O1UTvfXKjC0oKDwLT402IfKBU8Zqh10COpDpehY0reOQiqBsfDPlvY5d_tu6GIjgu8c5odAS2pgIE50ZwzoF0aZZrc8o2LUIE-8KMT7MBh0HoWC0OD6lb7RNze2ZH0F45pecdWOHyxt9x1W6vivLioWhoPHZnHR1DTT40v0tle4t0cFhcbqtcZJH6ZNxCDd_jSI5tMNGV9XhisFziRYYbZp8w-UEhdLAWDnlAIaFqeo3cjrG4TF6RatsTOHFoqPUhg5G9Au6&__hstc=168045118.6f6ef3c22aad9de47e9351d0f82de550.1686799174230.1694537083141.1694540426246.104&__hssc=168045118.3.1694540426246&__hsfp=2926660606) © 2023 Being First, Inc.  |  [Privacy Policy](https://breakthrough.beingfirst.com/privacy-policy/) |  [Terms of Service](https://beingfirst.com/terms-of-service/) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Dr. Dean Anderson", "url" : "https://blog.beingfirst.com/author/dr-dean-anderson" }, "dateModified" : "2023-08-10T19:08:08.583Z", "datePublished" : "2016-08-22T23:00:00.000Z", "headline" : "Change Leadership Roles: Which Ones Are Critical for Your Team?", "image" : [ "https://blog.beingfirst.com/hubfs/Blog_Images/Creating%20a%20Change%20Leadership%20Team-%20What%20Roles%20Are%20Critical%3F%20Change_Leadership_Roles-531671-edited-2.jpeg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.beingfirst.com/change-leadership-what-roles-are-critical", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.beingfirst.com/hubfs/BF%20Logo.svg" }, "name" : "Being First, Inc." } } ```