Teams Choose the Champion The Champion serves a Change Team, even though s/he is first recruited by the Change Agent. Once the Change Agent releases the Initiative to the Change Team, the team has the final say over this choice of Champion. While the Champion may have been involved in helping the Change Agent find potential team members, the team members haven't really had a chance to get to know the Champion. The team members meet the Champion before they start their work on the Change Initiative, but the Champion has been involved with the initiative for some time at that point. The Change Team is likely to accept the Champion chosen by the Change Agent. However, during the team development process, it must reach consensus to keep (or replace) the Champion selected by the Change Agent. The team will consider the Champion's qualifications and will decide whether this person is a good match for the people on the team. The Champion will be prepared to answer direct questions about his or her ability to support the team throughout the initiative. The Champion will also be prepared to ask the team members questions about how they see the Champion functioning in this role. The Champion must find out what the team requires, and must be certain that he or she can fulfill those requirements. Working out this agreement is a two-way street. The Champion may decide that s/he cannot support this team because of its particular needs and requirements. On the other hand, the team may decide that it cannot work with the Champion selected by the Change Agent. If the Change Team decides it will not work with the Champion, or if the Champion decides s/he will not work with the team, the Change Team must find a replacement Champion. The person who is leaving the Champion role is obliged to help the team locate another Champion who can better meet its requirements. To make this search proceed more quickly, the team should be clear about the reasons that led to the release of the first Champion; it should share this information with prospective Champions so they will know what the team requires. Finding a replacement Champion takes a lot of the team's time and energy. The team should only replace a Champion when absolutely necessary. Written by Heidi Jeanne Hess (Veronica Boaz and Doug Wesley contributed) Check Point (Please complete and submit the Form below) When
you are finished Updated: July 5, 1998 |
