What I Learned About Being an Effective Change Agent from Ted Childs

Sitting in the front row of the auditorium as I was presenting at a Leadership Conference 20 years ago, I remember Ted looking up at me with a furrowed brow and an expression bordering on a frown. I wasn’t sure what to make of his reaction.

Did I say something wrong???

I realized later that it wasn’t a look of disapproval, but a look of acute focus and curiosity from an individual who was intent on hearing what I had to say. After all, he had no idea who this young speaker was or what I stood for.

We lost Ted Childs, my long-time mentor and friend in March. Ted was a legendary strategist and leader at IBM, who drove business and people transformation efforts for more than four decades. He worked closely with Lou Gerstner as he led global expansion, helping to write employment legislation in new markets.

Having Ted as a friend and mentor was a precious gift. His insights made a difference, not only in elevating how I see the work, but also in pushing me to evolve how I partner with leaders. 
 

Here are a few important things I learned from Ted about being an effective change agent.

1. Be a truth teller. Show your frustration but do it in a way that motivates others to change.

2. When making recommendations, back everything up with data and tie it right back to the business metrics.

3. Demonstrate how much you care about the issue. And communicate that message with conviction, as if your life depended on it.

4. Challenge others to grow in their jobs. It may not make them comfortable but learning is the goal.

I came to appreciate that furrowed brow in our conversations as he listened to my point of view. Later, he told me that he had never heard someone talk about the potential of the Asian community the way I was speaking about it. That look I once mistook for disappointment became a look I equate with genuine listening.

I’m grateful to have learned from him.
I’m grateful to have known him.
And I hope to carry forward even a fraction of the impact he made.

How are you navigating change in these times? I’d love to hear your story.
#TedChilds #LouGerstner #IBM #Leadership