A Guiding Coalition is a group of people working together to influence outcomes on a specific issue. Guiding Coalitions are useful for accomplishing a broad range of goals that reach beyond the capacity of any individual or team. Thus, one of the most important aspects of a guiding coalition is its diversity. An effective coalition is comprised of individuals from across the organization who contribute unique skills, experiences, perspectives and networks in order to enable the most innovative ideas to emerge. Coalition members are a powerful, enthusiastic group of change leaders who develop new strategies and put them into effect to transform an organization.

Guiding Coalition members are expected to:

  • Use their day-to-day function/role and relevant stakeholder groups to increase awareness of the change initiative and adopt change management methodology.
  • Contribute energy and skills by collaborating (attending monthly meetings and working between meetings) on change projects or actions that will accelerate change in a specific sphere.
  • Increase personal awareness, knowledge and ability in order to address racism in systemic policies and practices that have generated an imbalance in power and privilege in the medical learning and work environment.
  • Value diversity comprehensively, including race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, ability and disability, age, and other factors that shape creative perspective and professional experience.
  • Demonstrate a high commitment to ending racism.
  • Be open minded and willing to approach problems with awareness that one’s own perspective is not always the only valid perspective.
  • Personal goals and talents are aligned with the college’s Statement on Racism.
  • Desire to transform “why we can’t” to “how we can.”
  • Affect change through actions big and small.
  • Motivation to lead from where you sit.

In between monthly meetings, you will work with your sphere to accomplish tasks related to the change projects or goals your sphere has set. This could include, but is not limited to:

  • Meeting and planning with staff, faculty, leadership.
  • Developing the right vision, objectives or targets for change in your sphere.
  • Communicating and building awareness and desire to change.
  • Researching best practices.
  • Developing tools and materials.
  • Anchoring new approaches deep in the culture.
  • Applying change management methodology to day-to-day work.