Mapping Your Path to Personal Growth: Navigating the Five Stages of Boyatzis' Intentional Change Theory
I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept.
-ANGELA DAVIS
The start of a New Year is a thrilling time to be a coach. Many of my coaching clients have renewed energy to pursue their worthy goals and develop atomic habits that support them in becoming the best version of themselves at work or at home.
And I love being a part of the journey to facilitate growth and encourage resilience in their change efforts.
However, despite my joy in the process, I’m often intrigued at how difficult it can be to sustain a meaningful change for the long-term.
Think about a recent personal change project you undertook … which could be anything that represents a meaningful shift in your mindset or behaviors. For example, perhaps you are working on improving communication patterns with a loved one, learning how to set clearer boundaries at work, establishing time and energy for a new hobby, or developing a morning routine that will revolutionize your self-care habits.
Now that you have this in mind, take a moment to consider where you started with this endeavor, where you’re at now, and how far you’ve come:
What motivated the change?
What approach did you apply to pursue change?
How successful have you been in seeing your change happen?
How long did it take to make progress?
What barriers or obstacles have you experienced?
If you achieved change at any level, how sustainable would you say your change is?
As you contemplate your growth priorities and chart your progress towards your next meaningful personal change initiative, I want to introduce to you one of the most meaningful frameworks I have discovered to support, and sustain, individual change. Richard Boyatzis, a renowned psychologist and professor, has developed a compelling, research-supported road map for the change process, known as Intentional Change Theory.
In the pursuit of personal and professional development, understanding what we should expect in a change process, and what can do to facilitate more sustainable change is critical. Intentional Change Theory outlines five stages that create a pathway for individuals to pursue when intentionally seeking to bring about positive transformation in their lives:
1. The Ideal Self
The journey of intentional change begins with designing a clear vision of the "Ideal Self." This stage involves reflecting on your aspirations, values, and long-term goals. The priority in this stage is to envision the person you want to become, which helps to set a compelling and clear foundation for the transformative process.If you are tempted to get down to business and skip over the process of clarifying your future vision, you may miss out on one of the most important discovery points in the process. Recent research based in positive psychology and neuroscience suggests that focusing on strengths and positive attributes is more effective in facilitating sustained change compared to focusing solely on weaknesses or deficits. By beginning with a positive vision for your future self, you can more effectively fuel your desire for change, increasing your chances of long-term success in achieving your desired outcomes.
2. The Real Self
The next focal point in Intentional Change Theory is to evaluate where you are presently, to take an honest inventory of your "Real Self." It is important in this discovery phase to evaluate your strengths and weaknesses and identify specific areas for improvement. This step involves critical self-reflection and feedback from others to gain insight into one's strengths and areas for improvement.Consider various tools that can be helpful in this stage, for example, a personal or professional SWOT analysis, or a formal or informal 360-review tool. As you collect data to capture an accurate picture of your strengths and weaknesses, it is important to realize the gaps between your current state and your desired future state.
3. The Learning Agenda
Based on the gaps you identify in the previous phase, the next step in Intentional Change Theory is to establish a learning agenda. This involves setting specific goals and actions to bridge the discrepancies between your current “real self” and future “ideal self.” Your goals in the learning agenda will likely include acquiring new skills, behaviors, or perspectives necessary for the personal and professional development you seek. Although there are many varied areas you can identify for development, it’s important to prioritize in your plan what will help you make the most progress in seeing your future vision realized.
Boyatzis emphasizes that your learning agenda should be exciting and motivating, so work to create a plan that leverages your strengths and interests. It’s also beneficial to embrace a growth mindset in the design of your plan: consider what activities will get you out of your comfort zone and help you to embrace new experiences, feedback, and opportunities for development. Regularly revisit and revise your learning agenda as needed to adapt to changing circumstances and priorities.
4. Experimentation & Practice
The fourth stage of Intentional Change Theory encourages you to apply your learning agenda in a phase of experimentation. Boyatzis suggests this stage should be marked by deliberate practice, which involves engaging in purposeful activities, skills building, and reflection to determine what strategies are working and which are not working. Consider what stretch assignments or opportunities you can pursue that will push you in new ways. Challenging out-of-your-comfort-zone tasks can help you develop new capabilities and build resilience. In this experimentation phase, Boyatzis highlights the value of learning from failure as an essential part of the experimentation process. Instead of viewing failure as a setback, individuals should embrace it as an opportunity for growth and discovery. Reflecting on failures, identifying lessons learned, and adjusting strategies accordingly can lead to valuable insights and improvements.
5. Supportive Relationships
Central to the theory of Intentional Change is a focus on encouraging relationships. Boyatzis highlights how important it is to have a supportive environment throughout the process of change. Having access to resources, encouragement from others, and a culture that values learning and innovation can create conditions that will help to accelerate personal and professional growth. At each of the previous discovery points in the model (Ideal Self, Real Self, Learning Agenda, & Experimentation), consider how you can leverage the power of connections and intentionally seek encouragement and guidance from those around you. Whether through mentorship, peer support, or other meaningful relationships, the collaborative effort enhances the practice and mastery of transformed mindsets and behaviors. By fostering a network of positive influences, you can not only solidify your intentional changes but also find strength in community, creating a sustainable foundation for personal growth and development.References
Boyatzis, R., & McKee, A. (2006). Intentional change. Journal of Organizational Excellence, 25(3), 49-60.
Boyatzis, R. E., & Jack, A. I. (2018). The neuroscience of coaching. Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice and Research, 70(1), 11.
Boyatzis, R., Smith, M. L., & Van Oosten, E. (2019). Helping people change: Coaching with compassion for lifelong learning and growth. Harvard Business Press.
Smith, M. L., Van Oosten, E. B., & Boyatzis, R. E. (2009). Coaching for sustained desired change. In Research in organizational change and development (Vol. 17, pp. 145-173). Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
