Overcome Resistance, Lead Change: Tools for Innovation in Your Church

Change can feel daunting, but it’s often the key to unlocking your church’s full potential. In this episode, we explore practical tools to overcome resistance, spark creativity, and lead impactful innovation in your ministry. Featuring insights on how to identify root challenges, inspire fresh thinking, and build momentum for sustainable change, this episode equips church leaders to take the next step confidently.

Key Takeaways:

1. Why Resistance Happens:

  • Resistance is rooted in uncertainty and fear of the unknown.
  • Kerwin Webb: “What you’re doing now isn’t working, so why not try something different? Resistance often comes from fear or a lack of clarity.”
  • Building a clear and shared vision reduces pushback and encourages collaboration.

2. The Power of Good Questions:

  • Asking the right questions opens up new possibilities.
    • Example: “What problem are we really trying to solve?”
  • Children and newer church members often provide fresh perspectives because they’re not bound by traditional thinking.
  • Quote: “A good question reframes the problem and helps people see it differently.”

3. Practical Tools for Leading Change:

  • Practice your pitch: Refine your explanation by sharing your idea with different groups and integrating their feedback.
    • Kerwin: “By the time you present your idea formally, you’ll have addressed the big questions and objections.”
  • Create a timeline: Map out milestones leading up to your project launch, working backward to set realistic deadlines.
  • Prepare for objections: Address concerns like cost, volunteer needs, and resources before presenting your vision to decision-makers.

4. Building Buy-In:

  • Involve others early and often by giving them space to contribute their thoughts and ideas.
  • Success inspires momentum. When people see one idea succeed, they’re more likely to trust future initiatives.
    • Kerwin: “If they see someone else’s idea being taken seriously, they start believing their ideas matter too.”

5. Embracing Creativity and Innovation:

  • Host intentional conversations that disrupt routine thinking.
    • Example: Gap analysis: “What are we doing now, and how can we do it better?”
  • Use tools like Hatchathons to refine ideas and focus efforts.
    • Kerwin on Hatchathons: “We help leaders narrow down their ideas into something practical and actionable over two days.”
  • Small experiments build confidence and reveal what works.
    • Renée: “You don’t have to do it all—pick one thing and do it well.”

6. Knowing When to Pivot or Pause:

  • Track measurable goals to assess whether an idea is working.
    • Example: If attendance or engagement falls far short of your expectations, reevaluate the approach.
  • Kerwin: “Failure isn’t the end; it’s feedback. If a project stalls, pause, learn, and adjust.”

Action Steps for Church Leaders:

  1. Practice your pitch: Share your vision with trusted individuals and refine it based on their feedback.
  2. Develop a timeline: Start with the goal and work backward to create a clear plan.
  3. Conduct a gap analysis with your team: Identify what’s working, what’s not, and where you want to grow.
  4. Focus on small, low-risk experiments to test new ideas.
  5. Engage your community: Invite diverse voices, including children or newer members, into brainstorming conversations.

Memorable Quotes to Share:

  • Kerwin: “When people see their idea being heard and acted on, it sparks momentum across the church.”
  • Renée: “Don’t overwhelm people with 10 new ideas. Focus on one thing and do it well.”
  • Kerwin: “Innovation doesn’t have to be flashy. Sometimes it’s just doing something old in a new way.”