Preparing for change? Proceed with thought!

Why Think Strategically?

Engaging in organizational change without first engaging in strategic thinking is like embarking on a road trip without considering the purpose or destination. While there may be scenic opportunities along the way, valuable opportunities will be missed, the cost will be higher, and the endeavor may not lead anywhere good. Time is likely to be wasted overcoming avoidable “crisis” along the way. The travelers are likely to miss out on valuable treasures that could have been encountered with proper planning. The journey may end up far from what the travelers had hoped it would be.

    Likewise, strategic thinking is an immensely valuable when preparing for organizational change. Change is inevitable. Organizational changes occur whether leaders want it or not. Insightful leaders will recognize impending or necessary changes and engage intentionally. While definitions vary, strategic thinking includes critically considering implications related to the big picture of the organization and its future.

Strategic thinking can illuminate practices that may have become outdated or incongruent with the organizational mission or professed values. Strategic thinking provides opportunity to confront the excuse that “it’s always been done this way.” It allows leaders to consider outside factors that could impact the organization and prepare for an unpredictable future. The process of reflecting, questioning, and refining equips organizations to proceed forward from a position of strength.

Understanding Organizational Change

    In her book, “Strategic Thinking and the New Science,” T. Irene Sanders provided insight into how to move forward in an increasingly interconnected and rapidly changing world. Sanders related organizations to ecosystems. Organizations are continually confronted with new information and circumstances. The organizations must then adapt and regain equilibrium. Some changes are small, yet some may bring about significant transformation.  In this type of system the initial condition influences later outcomes and even small changes can lead to large, unexpected outcomes.

Leaders are best equipped to plan for desired outcomes when they are first aware of the initial condition of the organization leading into the change. From there, rapidly changing internal and external influences may result in complex and unpredictable outcomes. How can leader prepare for the unknown? Strategic thinking prepares leaders to move forward.

Foundational Values

    In preparation for organizational change, it is important for leaders to consider core values that guide the organization. Core values can then be used to help navigate organizational change. The values provide guidance for making decisions when time is short and outcomes are unknown. Possibilities that do not align with the organizational values can be quickly eliminated.

    In her new book “Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts,” Brené Brown highlighted the importance of “operationalizing” values in contrast to only professing them. Strategic thinking provides leaders with opportunity to consider how the values can be integrated into organizational practices and procedures.

    If organizations have existing core values, strategic thinking provides an opportunity to assess whether or not the values are still the best fit for the organization. Additionally, strategic thinking provides opportunity to consider where there may be gaps between core values and organizational practices. If gaps are uncovered, leaders can consider how the values can be integrated into company practices when the changes are implemented.

    If the company does not have existing core values, strategic thinking provides an opportunity to consider what is most valuable to the organization and its leadership. If there is lack of agreement or clarity about what it most important, there is opportunity to explore, discuss, and gain clarity. An organization’s core values provide a foundation for designing and navigating impending changes.

What does success look like?

    Without a clear destination, leaders may regret where they end up. Goals create both a clear destination and establish guideposts along the way. Strategic thinking helps to ensure that goals align with the company vision and values. Goals may need to be adapted over time based on unforeseen changes and circumstances. That’s okay. Strategic thinking allows leaders to set goals that help define success and create a roadmap to get there.

What is the cost?

    After defining success and mapping out how to get there, leaders can consider the costs. Strategic thinking can lead to strategic planning, during which leaders consider how much time and resources are needed. They can then consider whether or not the organization currently has the necessary resources or if it will have access to obtain them.

    Strategic thinking provides opportunity to consider potential impacts of unforeseen costs or circumstances. It is valuable to consider potential roadblocks that may impede progress. Leaders can then consider whether or not the organization has enough margin and fortitude to overcome potential or existing roadblocks. Strategic thinking also considers external factors that could impact the organization. Unforeseen circumstances are by nature unpredictable, but leaders do well to consider various factors when determining if the organization has what it takes to succeed. If needed, leaders have the opportunity to revise the proposed changes before announcing or implementing them.

Strategic thinking allows leaders to consider the potential unforeseen impacts of the change. Leaders can consider how their people will react or be impacted by the changes. They can also think through how changes in one area of the organization may impact other areas of the organization or stakeholders outside of the organization. The potential “ripple” effects may be unpredictable, but considering possible impacts before implementing changes keeps leaders from being caught off guard when unintended impacts arise.

What needs to be left behind?

    Strategic thinking that precedes organizational change provides a valuable opportunity to determine what needs to be left behind. Old practices, procedures, or ways of thinking may have become outdated or unhelpful. They may need to be changed, refined, or eliminated. There may be things that the organization is doing that may no longer fit with the new direction. New structures or procedures may need to be established. Strategic thinking provides opportunity to consider the best course of action to allow the organization to move forward most effectively.

Seek Out Wisdom

    Strategic thinking provides opportunity to obtain outside counsel. Leaders can consult with mentors, subject matter experts, colleagues, and others who may provide valuable insights. It is as King Solomon stated in Psalm 15:22, “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed” (NIV). Organizational change is complex, arduous work and leaders are likely to encounter resistance and unforeseen challenges. Enlisting support from the beginning can help prevent unnecessary pitfalls and provide leaders with a support network to lean on throughout the change process.

    Most importantly, by spending time engaging in strategic thinking before implementing organizational change, leaders experience opportunity to receive input and wisdom from the Lord. Leaders have opportunity to invite the Lord into the process from the very beginning. James 1:5 explains that the Lord will give wisdom to all who ask, without finding fault. The Lord may bring to mind considerations that may have otherwise been overlooked or provide strategies, insights, redirections, or warnings along the way.

Considering the rapidly changing, complex, unknown future, consulting with the One who created the world and everything in it is certainly a strategic advantage. Additionally, by seeking the Lord’s guidance and direction, leaders ensure they are leading the organization forward in a way that honors and pleases the Him.

Proceed with Thought!

    Strategic thinking equips and prepares leaders with purpose and wisdom as they move forward with organizational change. Without such preparation, leaders may be caught off guard when inevitably confronted with the unexpected. Engaging in strategic thinking allows leaders to cut out what does not belong and refine what does. It prepares them to both avoid and prepare for potential obstacles. Leaders can begin to foresee and plan for future needs. Strategic thinking helps equip leaders with a road map and tools for navigating the change.  By spending time thinking strategically before implementing change, leaders set themselves, their people, and their organizations up for strength and success!

   

"...they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations." Isaiah 61:4

Additional Resources:

Brown, B. (2018). Dare to Lead: Brave Work, Tough Conversations, Whole Hearts. London: Vermilion.

Sanders, T. I. (1998). Strategic thinking and the New science: Planning in the Midst of Chaos, Complexity, and Change. New York: Free Press.

Communicate to Bring Your Vision into Reality

            Leadership is an extraordinary task. Leaders often face demands to reach desired results but must rely on others to get them there. In the process, leaders must continually overcome both logistical and human challenges. Everyone is watching to see how they will do!

            While it is possible to make notable achievements individually through one’s own gifts or abilities, leadership multiplies impact. Communication empowers aspiring leaders to transform personal success into corporate victory.

Why communicate when there is so much to be done?

            Communication is a key tool to empower a leader’s vision. It is the key to unlocking a team or organization’s potential. It is a powerful tool for casting vision, shaping culture and identity, increasing effectiveness, and multiplying leaders. Few people are naturally skilled at communication. The great news for the rest of us is that communication skills can be learned and continually developed.

           

“It’s complicated”

            Communication in the leader-follower relationship is much more than a one-way information transfer. For maximum effectiveness, communication must be an ongoing, two-way process. It is more complex than it may appear! In their book, “Leadership: A Communication Perspective,” Craig E. Johnson and Michael Z. Hackman explained that when two people are talking, there are actually six people in the conversation (2018, p. 20):

1.    Who you think you are

2.    Who you think the other person is

3.    Who you think the other person thinks you are

4.    Who the other person thinks he or she is

5.    Who the other person thinks you are

6.    Who the other person thinks you think he or she is

            One could quickly get lost even considering this! The key takeaway is that there is much more to communication than meets the eye. There is much to be gained by learning more about what is happening below the surface.

            “Who the other person thinks you think he or she is” is especially valuable to consider in the leader-follower relationship. A phenomenon that has been named the Pygmalion Effect describes how a leader’s expectations tend to become self-fulfilling prophecies (Johnson & Hackman, 2018). When leaders communicate high beliefs or expectations, followers rise to meet them. Likewise, if expectations are low, followers will fall in line with the low expectations.

            When interacting with others, messages are being sent both verbally and nonverbally. For example, leaders may naturally have a bias toward people who are similar to them. A leader may not be aware of the bias, but may communicate it through actions and nonverbal cues. Others may pick up on this message and perform at a reduced capacity due to the lower expectations of them. This perpetuates the bias and reduces the potential effectiveness of the team or organization. Leaders can overcome this pitfall through awareness and intentional change (more on this below).

Solicit feedback for Maximum Effectiveness

Feedback Uncovers Hidden Potential

Followers can provide valuable feedback regarding a leader’s blind spots, which gives the leader opportunity to realize greater potential. Many organizations invest valuable resources into obtaining various forms of feedback. Feedback is a valuable tool to gain input from followers. Requesting feedback can also provide insight into specific ways to improve communication.

Solicit Feedback

 It is often necessary to establish trust and invite feedback. Formal processes often use surveys to obtain feedback on key areas. Less formal feedback can be obtained through conversations, feedback cards, or other means of communication. In some cases, it can be valuable to create avenues for anonymous feedback. The key is to communicate that honest feedback is valued and the leader will not respond defensively or harbor negative judgements.

Increase Effectiveness with Follow Through

In a study referenced in the article “The Impact of Executive Coaching and 360 Feedback on Leadership Effectiveness” from the Leadership & Organizational Development Journal, leaders experienced an average increase in effectiveness of 55% or more within 6 months of obtaining strategic feedback from multiple sources and following through with a coach to implement changes.

Reduce Gossip & Establish Trust

If followers don’t feel welcome or safe to provide feedback, they may comment on the leader, team, or organization among themselves, but are unlikely to share it with the leader. An added benefit is that communicating openness to honest feedback also serves to reduce gossip. When people feel safe to share their feedback directly, they will be less likely to turn to a “safer” third party in order to be heard. Genuine invitations to receive feedback in a non-defensive way can help to reduce gossip, provide valuable insight, and establish trust.

Pro Tip:

         

Take feedback seriously, but not personally.  The purpose is to find opportunities to increase potential. We all have them. Some feedback could be transformational. Other feedback may belong in the garbage. It is valuable to extended grace and to remember that everyone else is also in process. Seeking perspective from a trusted colleague, mentor, or coach can be helpful to identify trends and sort out what feedback is most valuable. That feedback can be used to develop actions plans.

Communication Tips

In addition the specific areas for improvement uncovered by feedback, the tips below can boost communication effectiveness.

1)    Establish and protect trust.

Trust is foundational in relationships. Lack of trust inhibits communication and leads to misunderstanding. Trust is generally built over time. I can be lost much more quickly. It is necessary to be consistent and act with integrity.

Some actions that can help to build trust include:

Connect.

Follow through on commitments. 

Be attentive to the needs or concerns of your followers.

Maintain confidentiality of things shared in confidence.

Explain the reason behind major changes that impact followers.

Share insight about yourself.

Express appreciation.

2) Communicate with the listener in mind.

            Messages are received most effectively when the listener can connect to it. When speaking or writing, consider your audience. Who are they? What is important to them? How much do they already know about the topic? How do they feel about the topic?  It is valuable to consider these types of question when formulating a message.

A technician describing a problem to a consumer communicates effectively by speaking in simple terms. A surgeon speaking to a medical team communicates with technical precision. If a listener or audience has resistance to certain terminology, a wise communicator can reframe a message to build upon concepts that are valued by the audience. A message will be more powerful if it connects to the needs of the audience.

In cross-cultural or global environments, greater sensitivity and understanding is required. Learning more about the cultures and values of others can help provide the broader perspective needed to communicate to diverse audiences. When stakes are high, solicit feedback or do research before an important presentation or meeting.

3) Adapt to your surroundings

            Similar to adapting to an audience, adapting to circumstances can also improve communication effectiveness. It is not inauthentic to adapt your communication style to the situation. Different situations require different styles.

Effectiveness can be increased by understanding audience expectations. Formal attire and a formal style are often expected when delivering quarterly or annual result to stakeholders. A more relational approach is more fitting for an informal proposal made to a long-time colleague over lunch.

           

4) Pay attention to your audience

            Listeners provide valuable feedback during a conversation or presentation. A listener may appear puzzled, upset, distant, excited, or engaged. In conversation, listeners may also say things that give clues to whether or not they are following you. These clues provide valuable insight that can allow the speaker to check for understanding or course-correct, if needed.

As a note, listeners in audiences may take on a passive, listening role with minimal facial expressions. These listeners sometimes later share how valuable the message was to them. Don’t get discouraged!

5) Never stop growing

With an ever-changing, increasingly diverse, and globally interconnected landscape, opportunity exists for continual growth in communication skills and methods. As cultures intermingle, it is necessary to grow in awareness of the values and worldviews of those we lead. Leaders have the opportunity to unite people they lead by recognizing and publically expressing honor and appreciation for the differences. This sets the standard for those they lead.

Go & be great!

Leadership requires both courage and humility. Author and researcher Brené Brown offers wisdom in her book “Daring Greatly.”

“When we spend our lives waiting until we’re perfect or bulletproof before we walk into the arena, we ultimately sacrifice relationships and opportunities that may not be recoverable, we squander our precious time, and we turn our backs on our gifts, those unique contributions that only we can make”(p.2).

If you are a leader, you have already stepped out into the arena. Communication is a valuable vehicle for bringing your bring your vision to life!

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.

Lately, I feel like I'm "chomping at the bit." I'll feel like a need to make a bold statement of proclamation, and then..."oh wait, nevermind." Or I feel the need to boldly move forward with some sort of action or revolution, but then I realize I don't know which direction to even go. So again, "oh wait, nevermind." Like a sneeze that almost happens, but then disappears.

It feel like the Lord is up to something. It's like I see a glimpse of what he's up to, but everything's in motion. Like He's putting things in place.  Significant things. Things that only He can do.

I've been having all kinds of ideas about directions I could go, but I feel like the Lord says "Wait, and see what I will do." He wants to show off His goodness.

It seems like a really good time to keep my mouth shut and seek the Lord. :)

Pursuing the Call of God

Approximately seventeen years ago, not even really knowing what it meant, I said "yes" to the Lord to a call to "full-time five fold ministry."

I haven't seen it happen yet. Based on my experience, I had been beginning to wonder if there had been a mix-up. But the Lord graciously reminded me that I was likely the only high school kid fasting in order to seek Him at that lock-in where He spoke to me.

Although it may not always appear that way (as a quiet single mom, without any current ministry role) I have sought to be faithful to the Lord and His call in every circumstance. I have learned to love the one in front of me, even when I recieved hostility in exchange. I have learned to overcome spiritual warfare, alone in the wilderness. I have learned to wrestle with Biblical truths until I see my own life transformed by them. I've learned to seek the Lord to overcome circumstances that have seemed impossible to me.

I've learned God's ways, often alone in the fire.

I've received and been transformed by countless hours of training and have gained understanding by serving in many areas throughout the church.

So, my question at is, "What now?"

I'm done waiting. I'm just going to believe God and do it.

I don't know what that looks like. It just feels necessary to "write the vision and make it plain" (Habukuk 2:2); most importantly for myself, and also for anyone who is interested in understanding or helping me along that pursuit.

I don't really care what it looks like, I just want be at the center of His presence and what He's doing. There's no other place I'm satisfied.

I've already tried everything I know to do, I have given up on that. I will simply be seeking the Lord and doing what He says. It's all I know to do.

I would love your prayers. 😊

What does it look like for women to step into place?

Toward the beginning of this year, I had a dream. In my dream I walked into a pastors' leadership gathering, looking to find a pastor who could help with a specific need someone had. I was specifically looking for a woman because the type of help was needed was the kind that women tend to be most naturally gifted to provide. The problem was emotional in nature and required someone nurturing and gifted in emotional intelligence. I had a certain type of person in mind.

There were two women at the gathering, but I knew "they would not do" because they had only been invited since they were able to fit into the roles traditionally filled by men. Everyone just stood and looked at me strangely, like they didn't understand what I was looking for. It was as though they did not understand the type of person I was looking for or why I was trying to find one among them.

In my dream, I was aware that the men were doing a great job at what they were created to do. On top of that, they did the best they could to fill-in in areas where women had been absent. However, they were not fully capable of filling both roles and it was an extra burden they weren't intended to carry.

My question is: What does it look like for women to step into their place as women in the Church?

2016: Preparing for the Future

Thankfully, I will not actually be growing a beard. Aside from that I am on a journey to look more like Jesus.

At the beginning of the year at my church's leader's retreat, we took a moment to consider the question of what our individual goals would be for the year if we could do anything. Over the recent years, I had overcome the seemingly impossible obstacles and had even more recently seen some long-term dreams come to pass. I had checked off all the major goals I had been perusing and had already recognized that it was time to set new ones and begin to go after them.

I took a moment and considered the question. I was tempted to keep my former pace and find a new big goal to pursue with focused determination. As briefly sought the Lord for direction, the only thing that came to my mind was a certain event from the Bible. When Jesus heard that his friend Lazarus was sick, he wasn't rushed or stressed. He stayed where he was for two more days before traveling to see him. In that time, Lazarus died. People questioned and even confronted Jesus about it, but that didn't stress him out at all. He stayed in line with what the Father was doing regardless of what people thought..

I imagined myself in that scene. I realized I would have felt the pressure of the natural expectations. I would have felt the pull between needing to finish the work I was already doing and needing to rush to save the life of a dying friend. The voices around me would have likely won over the still small voice of the Lord.

I realized I needed to pursue a different type of goal. I needed to become more like Jesus: more free to follow the Lord's voice; more free not to be stressed out by pressures and expectations that would keep me from following the Lord's lead. Not to be irresponsible, but to ensure that the voice of the Lord actually takes first place in my life. Doing so meant stepping back from being way too busy "doing"  and stepping into spending time with the Lord just "being."

Slowing down was consistent with what the Lord was speaking. Heading into 2016, someone had shared a picture with me of what they saw the Lord doing in my life. The picture was that I had been sailing against the wind, but now the wind and sea were calm and still. When the wind picked back up, I would be sailing with the wind.

If the Lord is bringing the wind along behind me, I definitely want to be ready to catch it.

I have learned that when you are in the storm, the goal is to survive and make it out of the storm. There is not much opportunity to thoughtfully consider and prepare for the future. On a real boat, you would not thoroughly mend or replace tattered sails during a storm or even along the journey. Any emergency repairs would likely take much more effort and be of lesser quality than those made during more favorable conditions. During the calm, you asses and repair the damage and strengthen the areas of weakness.

After weathering rough and stormy waters for many years, it seemed foolish or even dangerous for me not to take the time to regroup. I don't know what's ahead, but I do know that the time to prepare for a storm is before it hits. I do know that if the Lord is bringing wind, I want to be prepared to catch it rather than tied up and not paying attention.

So enjoying the calm and following the Lord's lead to rest and regroup is what I accomplished in 2016. I don't know yet know what lies ahead in 2017, but I am watching for the wind. Jesus is leading the way and I don't know where we're going, but I'm going to be ready and it's going to be good.

Waiting for the Lord

The are so many things I've wanted to do and not had time to even begin. I had intentions to do them once I reached the finish line for school. However, once I reached it I realized I didn't know where to begin and that I don't have time to do many things well. On top of that, one thing the Lord has been saying is "wait".

I am paying attention to and trying to learn the the difference between what God is in the middle of and what just seems good. I only want to go where God is leading me and do what He is asking me to do. So I am waiting for Him. 

I have learned that when the Lord says "wait," you wait. Pushing forward when the Lord says "wait" is exhausting and fruitless. When the Lord asks you to wait, it is good news.

Waiting is not lame, it is not punishment, and it is not rejection. Waiting means that something  is coming that is better than what is presently available. Waiting on the Lord means He is He has a good plan and He is arranging the details. Waiting is powerful.

For example, waiting during pregnancy means both the parents and the baby get 9 months to prepare for the amazing moment they will meet. The parents have no ability to form the baby or rush its development. God does that while they wait and prepare themselves. It is also God's grace that He gives the parents time to prepare and anticipate a gift that will change their life forever.

An invitation to wait is  powerful because it's and invitation to see that "the LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still" (Exodus 14:14). Those words were the instructions to the Israelites when they were facing seemingly certain destruction by the Egyptians. The Israelites never had to fight that battle. The Lord won it for them in a surprising and miraculous way.

Waiting for the Lord also displays trust. Logically, taking action is more effective than taking no action. However, God created the universe and knows everything. He is for us and not against us. If He says wait, it's the best thing to do. 

Throughout the Old Testament, the Israelites won battles, not on their own strength or ability, but based on their obedience to the Lord. The other nations feared them because the Lord was with them. Obedience to God is better than human reason. (It's more logical than logic!)

As another example, Jesus commanded His disciples not to leave Jerusalem until they received the gift the Father had promised (Acts 1:4). They waited and received the Holy Spirit, who brought the boldness, power, and guidance they needed to accomplish their mission. The Gospel would not have gotten far if they had ignored Jesus and set out to continue in the ministry they already knew. Waiting in obedience is powerful.

The Lord can accomplish more in a moment than we can in a lifetime. I'm not against working hard, but if one of us if going to accomplish something, I'd much rather it be Him than me. 

I don't even know what exactly I am waiting for. I just know that there's something ahead that no matter how hard I could try, I can't "make" it happen. God is at work, so I am waiting.

If God says wait, waiting is good. Just wait...and see.