Issue #6, May 6, 2009
Leadership is about seeing the need for and guiding the process of change. Management focuses on maintaining what exists, but leadership encourages change. However, change is uncomfortable and very few people enjoy change unless it is a change that we strongly desire (as when I changed my marital status from single to married!). Someone commented that the only people who truly enjoy change are wet babies! We naturally want to stay where we are, do the things we are already doing, and stay within our comfort zone.
But we need to change. Change is a part of growing and a natural part of life. All living things grow and change. Death comes when change stops. God wants us to grow and He wants those under our leadership to grow also. Servant leaders realize that change is a necessary part of growth and they guide others through the process of change. They understand that helping others change is essentially assisting them to develop all the potential God has placed within them. The workers in a business, the members in a church, or the staff in an office all have greater potential than they are currently using. A servant leader sees that potential and works to help them change and grow.
Servant leaders guide others through the process of change but not just to feed their own ego or to build a name for themselves or the organization they lead. They are not interested in change for the sake of new things, to keep people occupied or to create an appearance of activity. They lead change to develop people and to fulfill God’s purposes for their lives and the organization. They recognize that not all change is healthy and that real growth is change in the right direction. In the process of leading positive change a church, business, or organization will naturally grow, but that is not the ultimate objective for a servant leader.
Servant leaders help others see the purpose of change. They cast vision to show the benefits of change in ways that motivate followers to pay the cost of change. The price of change is always high. It may not always be a financial cost; change may cost learning new ways of working together; it may cost learning a new leadership style; it may cost a loss of valued relationships or sense of community. Leaders are able to show that the cost is worth the effort.
Are you thinking for a change? Are you attentive to what God wants to change in you and through you? Serve others by leading change.
Next time, we’ll talk about what it means to lead change.
Until next time, yours on the journey,
Jon Byler
For further reflection and discussion:
- What needs to change in my own leadership? What will I do to begin or continue?
- What needs to change in my organization? What is the purpose of this change and what is God calling me to do to lead the change? What is my motive for this change?
- What obstacles will I meet in leading this change? How will I persuade people that the price of change is worthwhile?