MikeOharaLive the intersection of faith and life

Change

At GBCK we are walking through a lot of change in areas of leadership, systems, spiritual growth track, and even our service times.  Last Summer there was something brewing inside of me that as a church we needed to change; that is, what got us to our current state wasn't going to get to where we needed to go.

Here are some things we're learning about change, especially from mistakes we made:
• In general, people do not like change.  You will always have your "early adopters", but most people adopt change slowly.
• Communication is critical to change.  Communicate early.  Communicate often.
• Change takes time.  People don't soak up change like a sponge; change seeps in.
• Get your leaders and influencers bought into the change early.  Don't assume they "got it".
• Change is a process.  Plan out the steps to change and then work the plan.
• Vision is the engine to change.  Vision makes change a mission.  Without vision change becomes a duty.
• Change takes a lot of leadership energy at the front-end.
• Change is good, change is hard.