Intentional Change Theory

Intentional Change Theory is a five-step model that helps individuals or organizations

attain the desired change in themselves and their goals. This theory not only applies to
behavioral change but can also be utilized for achieving a positive change in the
growth mindset, skills, aspirations, beliefs, and many more.

The five stages represent the five questions one should ask her/himself about the
change one want to achieve. These stages can be listed as follows:

1. Where do I want to be?

The very first step is asking ourselves where we want to be. For an
organization, it could be what goal they wish to achieve, while for an
individual, it could be what s/he wishes to change in or about themselves.
How we see ourselves or our ionization in the future is what we have to
determine first.

2. Where am I now?
After determining our future vision for ourselves, we need to see where we
stand in the present. Our current status and how far we are from the vision we
saw in the first step. Proper strength-weakness analysis and honest reviews can
assure a genuine and honest picture of our current situation.

3. What is the gap, and how can I bridge this gap?

 Understanding the gap between where we are and where we want to be is
essential. It will give us an idea about how far we have to go and in what
direction we have to go. 
Determining the gap is not enough; we also need to plan on how we can
bridge that gap. What measures we can take to bridge it and how we can work
on it should also be considered.

4. Making changes through experiment

This stage is all about acting on the plan. We must experiment with different
ways of acting, thinking, and behaving to learn from failures and know what
suits us best or helps us the most. This stage involves experimenting, seeking
feedback, working on mistakes, and experimenting again.

5. Get support along the way

The last stage is to seek the right support along the way. Friends, family,
colleagues, or anyone who can encourage and motivate us, whom we can rely
on for help, and honest feedback can be that “right support” for us. We must
seek advice, honest feedback, and support from these people to become our
best selves, or to say the honest self.
This theory, proposed by Richard Boyatzis, is a learning process that can help
individuals and organizations grow and become their ideal selves.