How do people change? This question has been and continues to be at the heart of my work as a change agent, a leader, an organizational development consultant, a parent, a coach, and most of all, a human being.

Over the years, I’ve met and worked with many motivated and sincere individuals who wanted to bring real change in their leadership and personal lives. Yet, with all that desire and motivation, most of the change was short-term at best and in some cases, not at all. There’re the New Year’s resolutions, the promises, and the performance plans all which are full of good, yet often, unfulfilled intentions. I’ve come to learn that there are a few critical elements that set the fertile ground for change. 

Changing for Real. Increasing someone’s knowledge is quite different from getting them to make lasting changes behaviors and it requires a different model of learning. With its roots in positive psychology and emotional intelligence, we work with the Intentional Change Model developed by Richard Boyatzis and his colleagues. Richard Boyatzis is a professor in the psychology and organizational behavior departments of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. The model contends that we are more likely to achieve sustainable change when we actively seek to make five discoveries:

1. Our ideal self: the person and leader we truly want to be
2. Our real self: our current nature and how this compares to our ideal self
3. Our personal learning agenda: the things we need to change and do to close the gap
4. Opportunities for experimenting with and practicing new behaviors
5. Those who can help, support and challenge us as we work on changing our behavior

Are you ready for real change? We all struggle with the question of personal meaning throughout our lives. You may be at a tipping point for change – ready for transformation and committed to doing the work that it takes. You’re listening to the wake-up calls in your life and want to take action that gets lasting results. Using the Theory of Intentional Change Terri will help you explore your aspirations for work and life; analyze current competencies, behaviors, and learning style; and determine steps to implement the changes you seek.

For more information, contact Terri Altschul at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .