Recently I read a Facebook post from a well-known church leader explaining to his followers the multiple moves he had made in recent years. One of those moves involved serving a church for a year before resigning. His explanation? “I’m a change-agent leader. That didn’t sit well with a very established and process driven church. I was frustrated as much... Continue Reading
According to Gallup’s recent State of the American Workplace report, only 22% of U.S. employees strongly agree that their company’s leaders have a clear direction for their organization. My guess is those numbers are similar for churches as well. Certainly most church leaders spend significant time and resources defining and communicating their church’s vision. So, why then do so many... Continue Reading
“O Jesus, let us spread Your fragrance everywhere we go. Let us preach You without preaching, not by words but by our example, by the catching force, the sympathetic influence of what we do, the evident fullness of the love our hearts bear to You. Amen” — Prayer of Cardinal John Henry Newman It has been said that much of... Continue Reading
Suppose I wake up one morning with a crick in my neck that won’t go away. I go to my family physician and he prescribes pain pills to alleviate my pain. But, the next day I wake up with my crick worse than the day before so I go to my chiropractor who gives me an adjustment and assures me... Continue Reading
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
“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
The root word for “tyranny” is the Latin word tyrannia, from which we derive the word tyrant. A tyrant is someone who exercises absolute and often oppressive power over you and over which you have no control. One force that affects the lives of ministers and the churches they serve, often times over which they have little control, is that... Continue Reading
Without inner change there can be no outer change – Angel Williams A popular theory is that change happens from the outside in as external changes force us to personally change. I ascribe to an equally valid yet less recognized model based upon an opposing assumption. It is a model of inside out change. Over the years I have... Continue Reading
Over twenty plus years as an Executive Pastor I found myself frequently using words like………routinize, systematize and equilibrium. I have found other Executive Pastors have a similar bias in vocabulary. Routinize is to develop into a regular procedure. Systematize is to reduce to an orderly procedure. Equilibrium is a stable or unchanging system. Executive Pastors spend many years learning how... 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