Which option best describes a change agent?

• A. Someone who influences others to achieve a goal
• B. Someone who enforces strict compliance through penalties
• C. A leader who avoids feedback
• D. A person who resists adopting new practices

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is that a change agent is someone who influences others to embrace and achieve a goal, guiding and enabling change rather than simply enforcing it. This emphasis on influencing and enabling adoption sets the best option apart. A change agent works to persuade, inform, and support people through the transition, address concerns, and help implement new practices so the change sticks.

Why this description fits: it highlights influencing behavior, fostering buy-in, and guiding others through the process, which are the core responsibilities of someone driving change in an organization. They focus on people, communication, and support to make new approaches workable and sustainable.

Why the other descriptions don’t fit: enforcing strict penalties focuses on coercion rather than facilitating voluntary adoption. A leader who avoids feedback signals poor change leadership, since feedback is essential for adjusting and improving the change effort. A person who resists adopting new practices embodies the opposite of a change agent, whose role is to promote and enable new ways of working.