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When my boys were younger, about every winter we'd make a trip to Montana for a week of snowboarding. I love snowboarding, especially with my boys. The "hills" of Minnesota (where we live) pale in comparison to the steep, rugged peaks of the Rockies. Those trips were always the highlight of our year.
But you can't just go on a snowboarding trip whenever you want to. There are many important steps that go into it ahead of time. Each one is important.
First you need to make the decision and then make a plan. You must pick your resort (for us it was always Bridger Bowl in Bozeman, MT.) Then you have to do a bit of research and make reservations for the dates available. Those dates must be put on the calendar and, of course, you need to make a plan to pay for it.
Then as the week draws near, you prepare and pack up your equipment, head out for the 16-hour drive, finally arrive, check in, unpack and pray for fresh powder. The next day you get to the slopes early, buy your ski pass, hop on the chairlift and head to the top. Then, and only then, can you do what you came to do, snowboard! It's pretty obvious there's a lot of planning and preparation needed to make it happen.
That's a lot like introducing change in the church or in any environment. Several critical steps must happen before actually implementing change.
This is true for church leaders, pastors and especially for pastors who are new to their church. Often new pastors see a clear, mental picture of a preferred future and are motivated to make some improvements. But they'd be wise to slow down and establish some foundational building blocks before making any changes. With this in mind, here are three prerequisites for introducing change.
1. Build relationships
Churches are made up of people, and every change is going to affect these people. As the leader, you are going to be looked at (rightly or wrongly) as the one who made the change. Some changes are good, others aren't. But most changes make people uncomfortable. So, you're going to need the relational capital to endure through the potential turmoil changes often bring.
2. Establish trust.
Trust is a healthy bi-product of building relationships. People won't follow you or agree with the changes you propose if they don't trust you. The only way to build trust is to earn it. It usually takes time, but it is a key necessity for introducing change.
3. Cast vision.
As stated above, change makes people nervous. It can bring instability, unrest, and confusion. It's been said that leadership is moving people "from here to there." And the only way to motivate them to go "there" is for them to realize that staying "here" is not a viable option. People will only move forward when the pain of staying where they are outweighs the pain of moving on.
Finally, introduce change
Only when these three preconditions are achieved can you successfully introduce and implement change. What kind of changes are needed and how soon? That takes some time to figure out, but generally it depends on the health of the church.
If the church is mostly healthy, the best changes are small and incremental. Think year by year.
If the church is only marginally healthy, many incremental changes may be needed. Think month by month.
However, if the church unhealthy, some radical changes will be needed right now. Think week by week.
If you're in a leadership position at your church, don't forget what must precede change. Lay a relational foundation supported by trust built over time. Combine this with a genuine and passionate vision for change before you proceed with implementing it. It won't be easy. Good things never are. But moving forward is important and if it's a Spirit-directed change that advances God's kingdom, it will be well worth it.
 | Mark J. Lenz is the president for the Society for Church Consulting whose mission is to revitalize and advance churches by training leaders and certifying consultants. Learn More » |
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