The book Canoeing the Mountains by Tod Bolsinger can teach us much about leadership and change management. Although it was written to help church leaders understand recent shifts in worship service attendance, it contains many widely applicable leadership tips for anyone navigating a changing landscape.
The title comes from an anecdote about Lewis and Clark’s famed exploration of early America. The two men had expected to canoe to the Pacific Ocean, only to come face-to-face with the Rocky Mountains. They had two choices: give up and go home or find a way to press forward in the new terrain. They chose the latter.
Consider the state of Christianity today. Fewer people than ever believe in God, leading to dwindling church attendance. Younger people are less drawn to traditional worship services, necessitating a rise in more extensive services with modern-sounding music and other forms of entertainment. How can church leaders adapt?
The book contains the same questions that entrepreneurs often face in business. How can we influence and shape significant trends? How do we prepare our teams for change? How can we embrace demographic and psychographic shifts?
As Bolsinger writes, “The answer is not to try harder but to start a new adventure.” Early in the book, he distinguishes between technical and adaptive challenges. Technical challenges are well-defined and have clear and straightforward answers. They can be overcome using traditional methods that have worked well.
Adaptive challenges, however, cannot be solved using existing knowledge and are better suited to exploration. The book is split into five parts, tackling one key aspect of the leadership change management process. Here are the main takeaways:
Although directed at church leaders, this book would be helpful to anyone looking to improve their flexibility and ability to evolve with changing circumstances.
Understanding leadership change management is fundamental to your team’s effectiveness. Click here to schedule a complimentary coaching session, and let’s discuss managing change as a leader.
Coach Dave
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