You Are Necessary, Becuase Change is Needed

POINT OF THE POST...

NEW ARTICLE: 2.5 Minute Read... If you’re a leader, you are needed.  Probably more than you even realize. I know you don’t need my validation, but humor me for a few minutes. I want to explain why you are required. Some quick linguistic context first, though. Words matter, and at times, we inappropriately use words interchangeably. We tend to do this with leadership and management. Interestingly, much of what we consider “leadership” is just management. Forming budgets, organizing teams, administering programs, and paying bills, while important, aren’t leadership efforts. This is the stuff of management. Don’t get me wrong, management is critical to organizational success, but this isn’t leadership. It’s management. Management is the process of organizing and administering what exists. Then what is leadership? I’m glad you asked. Leadership is the act of creating what must exist. Leaders innovate and conceive. Leaders look at where things are against where things could or should be and close the gap. Leaders start companies, redefine product lines, and introduce new ventures. Leaders move locations. They change models and institute new strategies. This is the dynamic of leadership. It’s the action of creating what needs to exist.  Ultimately, leaders create internal change to meet the ongoing presence of any external evolution. Leaders exist because change is required. And change is necessary because the world around us never stagnates. No business, company, or church is immune to our changing world. Just ask Blockbuster, Kodak, or the defunct church down the street. Change is unrelenting. In the words of Heraclitus, “the only constant in life is change.” There is no stopping the change external to us. As leaders, we choose to change with the times or get left behind - personally, professionally, and organizationally. That why your leadership is so necessary. That’s why understanding and embracing change leadership and transition management are vital to success.  Take a moment and remove your management hat. How is your church, really? Are there things that need to change? Let me give you some potential options I see floundering in many churches today: - Your culture - Your staff structure - Your strategy - Your model and methods - Your vision - Your digital and physical channel alignment - Your volunteer recruitment, retainment, and engagement - Your generosity stream - Your engagement pathway - Your guest experience  You don’t have to change anything, of course. You can choose to manage what you have. In doing so, I fear that you will one day look back and realize the opportunity to change has passed.  It might be time to take a long, hard look in the mirror and decide to engage some change. Your community, your congregation, and those following you will be grateful. Not initially, but eventually. 

2.5 Minute Read…

If you’re a leader, you are needed. 

Probably more than you even realize. I know you don’t need my validation, but humor me for a few minutes. I want to explain why you are required.

Some quick linguistic context first, though. Words matter, and at times, we inappropriately use words interchangeably. We tend to do this with leadership and management. Interestingly, much of what we consider “leadership” is just management. Forming budgets, organizing teams, administering programs, and paying bills, while important, aren’t leadership efforts. This is the stuff of management. Don’t get me wrong, management is critical to organizational success, but this isn’t leadership. It’s management. Management is the process of organizing and administering what exists.

Then what is leadership? I’m glad you asked.

Leadership is the act of creating what must exist.

Leaders innovate and conceive. Leaders look at where things are against where things could or should be and close the gap. Leaders start companies, redefine product lines, and introduce new ventures. Leaders move locations. They change models and institute new strategies. This is the dynamic of leadership. It’s the action of creating what needs to exist. 

Ultimately, leaders create internal change to meet the ongoing presence of any external evolution. Leaders exist because change is required. And change is necessary because the world around us never stagnates. No business, company, or church is immune to our changing world. Just ask Blockbuster, Kodak, or the defunct church down the street.

Change is unrelenting. In the words of Heraclitus, “the only constant in life is change.” There is no stopping the change external to us. As leaders, we choose to change with the times or get left behind – personally, professionally, and organizationally. That why your leadership is so necessary. That’s why understanding and embracing change leadership and transition management are vital to success. 

Take a moment and remove your management hat. How is your church, really? Are there things that need to change?

Let me give you some potential options I see floundering in many churches today:
  • Your culture
  • Your staff structure
  • Your strategy
  • Your model and methods
  • Your vision
  • Your digital and physical channel alignment
  • Your volunteer recruitment, retainment, and engagement
  • Your generosity stream
  • Your engagement pathway
  • Your guest experience 

You don’t have to change anything, of course. You can choose to manage what you have. In doing so, I fear that you will one day look back and realize the opportunity to change has passed. 

It might be time to take a long, hard look in the mirror and decide to engage some change. Your community, your congregation, and those following you will be grateful. Not initially, but eventually. 

As a leader myself, I understand the complexities of leading change. Most leaders are so overwhelmed with organizational management that they accidentally neglect their role in change leadership. At Transformation Solutions, we help churches discern what needs to change and coach pastors through the challenge of change.

How can I help?

Go right now to mytransformationsolutions.com and sign up for a free, 30-minute conversation to decide if working together works for you.

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