One does not discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore. Andre Gide Change leaders are people who see opportunities where others don’t. They have the courage to take great risks and the ability to make wise decisions. Frequently they aren’t even aware of the decision making process they are using when determining a change initiative, but... Continue Reading
Lottery Leaders love change and lots of it. In fact, their leadership style is characterized by constant and massive change, often leaving followers drowning in their wake. And, frequently such leaders lack the analysis skills to distinguish between simply a good idea versus a really great idea. If you are one caught in the wake of a speed boat leader... Continue Reading
Playing the lottery is a form of gambling. The typical lottery player repeatedly purchases numerous lottery tickets in hopes of securing a winning ticket and a cash payout. Playing the lottery has a change leadership analogy: The “Lottery Leader” seems to be constantly buying more tickets, making changes, in the hope that that at some point there will be a... Continue Reading
At the beginning of the 21st century Malcolm Gladwell wrote a thought provoking bestselling book, The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Difference, about the contagious nature of change. His foundational thesis is that substantive change is a product of incremental actions, usually by a quite small group of people, whose influence and initiatives bring about a new... Continue Reading
Understandably, the minister’s education and training focuses for the most part on developing biblical knowledge and spiritual leadership skills and attributes. Yet, within weeks, if not days, of arriving at their first job in the local church the gospel minister learns they need another set of leadership skills and attributes……those of an organizational leader. In Acts 6 we see this... Continue Reading
A “Personal Virtue Vision” develops an individualized picture of change in specific areas of life, and then develops training plans to accomplish it. For example, I must first envision what a Christ centered virtue would look like in particular areas of my life: Money: If I were out of control in spending and full of greed, what would it be... Continue Reading
Most of us at one time or another desire to see meaningful change in the way we live our lives. I have discovered that implementing an annual “Rule of Life” plan is one of the most effective ways to build intentional change into my life. What is a Rule of Life? Some also call this a “rhythm of life”... Continue Reading
At the heart of leading change in the church is collectively and corporately discerning God’s will. In most churches significant change must pass through some leadership group that is charged with discerning if the proposed change is in line with God’s will. Regretfully, lay and professional church leaders have little training in how to corporately discern the will of God... Continue Reading
“It is not the strongest species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the ones most responsive to change.” Charles Darwin Studies show that only 10% of people who have had heart bypass surgery make major changes to their diets and lifestyle behaviors afterward. Too frequently we don’t alter our behavior even in the face of overwhelming evidence we should.... Continue Reading
In By the Inch it is a Cinch-The Incremental Approach to Leading Change and Short Term Low Goals: A Little by Little Approach to Change we examined the advantages of starting small and making changes at a measured pace. From the parable of the mustard seed, in Matthew 13:31, we see God’s growth plan of starting small and letting... Continue Reading
In 1849, French journalist Jean-Baptise Alphonse Karr wrote what was to become a famous change quote: “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” Though clearly satirical, Karr’s quotation holds true in today’s churches. Though churches are increasingly aware of the need for change and change initiatives take a variety of forms, the outcome is almost always the... Continue Reading
Anyone who has led church change has discovered that institutional changes are not as difficult for churches to make as the psychological transitions of the staff and members impacted by the change. Last post we examined William Bridges’ theory that change is situational; transition, on the other hand, is a psychological, three-phase process that people go through as they internalize... Continue Reading
Jim is a Church Organizational Leadership and Management Coach, Consultant and Trainer. Throughout his career Jim has demonstrated a passion for showing Pastors and Ministers how to use organizational tools for church and personal growth and health.
More About Jim“For I may be absent in body, but I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see how well ordered you are and the strength of your faith in Christ.” Colossians 2:5