Change leadership is fundamental to One Water innovation—which is reflected in leaders across the country transforming water management approaches to realize positive, lasting changes for their communities. Last year, I had the privilege of facilitating the US Water Alliance’s second Mentoring Connections program, where emerging leaders participated in peer exchanges and mentorship grounded in the principles of One Water Change Leadership. The program prepares emerging leaders to enact the change needed to ensure that One Water approaches are implemented far and wide.
Rising Professionals and Changemakers at One Water Summit 2023
Change is a process; it does not occur instantaneously. This is why intentional management of change leadership processes is essential to effecting lasting transformation. Unlike project management, in which programmatic tools/tactics of change are taught, change management centers human dynamics, where people are assisted in accepting and employing new methods and ideas.
A broad frame for addressing change is provided in ProSci’s “States of Change” model—the current, transition, and future—which can be used to envision what change may look like across time. Asking questions like, “How can I navigate uncertainty when leaving the current state?” or, “How can I address the emotions that I and others will likely experience in the transition state?” can be a profound practice that increases a leader’s comfort and competency in leading successful change. This process and other tools can be used for guiding others and building capacity for change within oneself.
The ability to facilitate and lead change is essential to advancing One Water, an integrated approach that manages all water in a collaborative, integrated, inclusive, and holistic manner. One Water approaches often entail shifting, expanding, or transforming existing water management practices. Intentional and skilled change management when advancing One Water can help alleviate uncertainty or fear of the unknown felt by staff and leadership and accelerate adoption.
People are at the center of systems and culture, and the entire water sector benefits when emerging leaders like the “Rising Professionals” in our Mentoring Connections cohort create the change they want to see. Gain more change leadership insights from the 2023 rising One Water professionals here.
“Change is constant. (Be like water)” –Adrienne Maree Brown, Emergent Strategy
