6 Ways Social Change Agents Influence Others

1. Show It Is in Their Best Interest

Most people are hesitant about any type of change—except when the change benefits them. As Dr. Dean Gualco explains in a Walden Social Change Series webinar, “Anytime you change something, you have to think about how it’s going to benefit somebody else—and that is what you promote.” He gives the example of doubling someone’s pay. That is a change most people would welcome, even if they claim they don’t like change. As Dr. Gualco puts it, “Change is almost always accepted when people see that it is in their best interest to change.”¹ Social change agents do a great job of showing how change will benefit others.

2. Listen

During another Walden Social Change Series webinar, Dr. Henry Brashen asked the audience the most important thing someone could do to influence another person. While there were many answers, the one Dr. Brashen highlighted was listening. He noted that when you want to influence someone, the most important thing you should do is take a step back and listen. He explained that others gravitate toward people who listen. This allows the listener to engage in what is important to the talker.² Effective social change agents draw people to them simply by listening.

3. Have a Clear Vision

To influence others, a social change agent must have a clear vision and message. People who waver or are inconsistent in their message drive others away rather than influence them.³ Having a clear vision and communicating it consistently is a great way social change agents influence others.

4. Be Aware

Social change agents are highly aware of what is happening around them and use that as a tool to influence others.⁴ Change agents tend to notice things other don’t, which helps them determine what needs to be changed and how the change will occur.

5. Be Fearless

Social change agents must be fearless. Change agents often face rejection and ridicule, but how they deal with setbacks separates them from others.⁵ An effective change agent is fearless and does not let rejection keep them down. Their passion can be contagious and can actually influence others. Social change agents are effective because they don’t give up and their determination is influential to others.

6. Have Something Someone Wants

For a social change agent to have influence, they must also have something someone wants. If they don’t, they won’t be influential. As Dr. Gualco put it in his presentation on social change, you have to figure out what people want. “If you have it, you have influence,” he says. Whom the change agent is trying to influence will determine what will be enough to have influence.¹ To influence a superior, you must have something more important than if you were influencing a subordinate. Social change agents are successful at influencing others because they know they have something someone else wants and use that to influence others.