Essential skills for Today’s Changemakers

Olamidayo Abolarin -
💡
“people who solve problems must somehow first arrive at the belief that they can solve problems”.

Have you ever found yourself thinking, “How do people actually make a real difference in the world?”

Well, It’s not about being born with something extra, It’s about learning and building the right skills. Just like playing an instrument or picking up a new language, becoming a changemaker takes practice. The more you grow those skills, the more confident and effective you become at making a real impact.

As David Bornstein, author of How to Change the World, put it, "...people who solve problems must somehow first arrive at the belief that they can solve problems. This belief doesn't emerge suddenly. The capacity to cause change grows in an individual over time as small-scale efforts lead gradually to larger ones. But the process needs a beginning - a story, an example, an early taste of success - something along the way that helps a person form the belief that it is possible to make the world a better place."

So, what are these key skills? Let's break them down.

The Changemaker's Skillset

Here are the core skills that empower changemakers:

  1. Leadership: Changemakers don't just identify problems; they act. They tackle social issues head-on, addressing the circumstances that leave people out or push them to the margins. They're not complainers; they're the ones finding and championing solutions.
  2. Financial Awareness and Planning: While driven by purpose, social ventures need to be sustainable. A solid understanding of financial principles, budgeting, and resource management is crucial for long-term viability and scaling your impact.
  3. Policy Awareness and Political Landscape: Navigating the landscape of regulations, understanding policy levers, and knowing how to engage with political systems can be vital for creating systemic change and advocating for your cause.
  4. Evaluative Skills: How do you know if you're making a difference? The ability to measure your impact, analyze data, and learn from your successes and failures is essential for continuous improvement and demonstrating accountability.
  5. Optimistic Outlook: Change can be a long and challenging process. Maintaining a positive outlook, believing in the possibility of a better future, and inspiring hope in others are crucial for sustaining momentum and driving collective action.
  6. Multi-dimensional Awareness: Social issues are rarely isolated. The ability to see the interconnectedness of different challenges, understand the broader context, and approach problems from multiple perspectives leads to more holistic and effective solutions.
  7. Creativity: Breaking free from conventional thinking and developing innovative approaches is often necessary to tackle deeply entrenched social problems. The ability to think outside the box and imagine new possibilities is a powerful asset.
  8. Desire for Social Change: This is the fundamental driving force. A deep-seated passion for creating a more just, equitable, and sustainable world is the fuel that sustains changemakers through the inevitable challenges.
  9. Resilience in the Face of Adversity: Changemakers take responsibility when things get tough and actively look for opportunities within challenges. Whether it's a lack of funding, tight budgets, not enough donations, or organizational hurdles, they see these obstacles as chances to learn and grow.
  10. Empathy: Changemakers have a thing for connecting with people, crafting compelling narratives, communicating shared goals, and fostering participation. They're effective communicators, able to inspire others to join their cause.
  11. Digital and Tech know-how: The right tech skills help you reach more people, scale your impact, and get things done more efficiently, so you can focus more on making change, and less on being overwhelmed.

Putting It All Together

The great thing is that all of these qualities can be developed with practice. Seriously there’s tons of research showing that people can grow in all of these areas.

There used to be this idea that you were either born with certain traits or you weren’t. Like, some people were just “naturally creative” or “always optimistic,” and if that wasn’t you, oh well. But that’s old news.

Now we know better. Just like you can pick up a new language in your twenties (or later!), you can absolutely build the skills to be a strong, confident changemaker. It’s all about putting in the work, staying curious, and believing that growth is always possible.

Ready to level up your change-making skills?

I put together some fantastic FREE resources to help you thrive in your social entrepreneurial journey: 

So, what resonates most with you? What skills do you feel most drawn to develop? And how can we help? Let's keep the conversation going in the comments!

Connect with us

📸 Instagram
💬 Twitter
🤝 LinkedIn
🎧 Podcast