Disruption isn’t coming. It’s already here.
Change is happening faster than ever in every industry—from tech to education to the church to your company or organization. The leaders who thrive don’t have the biggest budget or longest tenure. They’re the ones who know how to navigate disruption—and, in many cases, initiate it.
However, not all leaders respond to disruption in the same way.
Most fall into one of three categories:
🟥 Reactors
🟨 Adapters
🟩 Disruptors
Let’s look at these three types of leaders and, more importantly, ask:
Which kind are you, really?
🟥 Reactors: The Caught-Off-Guard Crew
How they see disruption:
Disruption is something that happens to them.
It’s an uninvited guest. An annoyance. A threat.
Do they look for it?
Nope. They often ignore early warning signs or dismiss them as temporary. They wait too long to respond, and by the time they do, the damage is already underway.
How they respond:
Frantically. They scramble to catch up. Their leadership is driven by crisis, not clarity. Their team feels the panic. They often rely on short-term fixes that don’t address root problems.
The result?
They’re always behind. Always reacting. Always surprised.
🟨 Adapters: The Middle-of-the-Road Managers
How they see disruption:
Disruption is inconvenient but manageable. It’s something to adjust around—if they have to.
Do they look for it?
Sort of. They don’t actively seek disruption, but they don’t ignore it either. They’ll wait for confirmation it’s real before they make a move.
How they respond:
Methodically. They’re steady and responsive. They’ll make incremental changes to maintain momentum. They rarely overreact, but they also rarely leap ahead.
The result?
They survive. Sometimes they even grow. But they rarely lead the pack.
🟩 Disruptors: The Forward-Thinkers
How they see disruption:
Disruption is an opportunity. A tool. A calling. Not only do they see it coming—they create it.
Do they look for it?
Absolutely. Disruptors are curious. They study trends. Ask questions. Challenge assumptions. They’re comfortable being uncomfortable because they know: Comfort is the enemy of innovation.
How they respond:
Proactively. They build systems, teams, and cultures wired for change. They test ideas before they’re needed. They’re often misunderstood in the moment but admired in hindsight.
The result?
They don’t just survive change—They drive it.
So, Which Are You?
You may not love the answer.
Most of us want to be disruptors, but few leaders will take the risks to be true disruptors.
Know this: Disruptors aren’t born. They’re built.
It starts with a mindset shift:
Instead of asking:
❌ “What if things go wrong?”
Start asking:
✅ “What needs to change before it breaks?”
Instead of waiting for disruption to hit you…What if you became the one who created it?
🚀 Call to Action:
Ready to lead forward? Ask yourself today:
- What trends do I need to be watching?
- What systems in my organization need disruption?
- Where am I reacting instead of leading?
Let’s stop being surprised by change and start driving it.
💬 Quotes for Inspiration:
“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” – Peter Drucker
“Comfort is the enemy of progress.” – PT Barnum (or maybe just every disruptor ever)
“Leaders who don’t disrupt will eventually be disrupted.”
📚 Resources for Further Learning:
- The Innovator’s Dilemma by Clayton Christensen
- Canoeing the Mountains by Tod Bolsinger
- Big Shoes To Fill – Get practical tools to lead through disruption
One More Thing…
If you found this helpful, please pass it along to other leaders (and encourage them to subscribe!).
If you’re ready to accelerate your leadership, I’d be honored to help. Visit gavinadams.com to explore my systemic approach to leadership development and schedule a 30-minute conversation.
If you’re a church leader, be sure to visit the Church Accelerator Community.
Leading With You,
Gavin Adams
