Stephen Barkley
Leading Change is the first of a trilogy of books for church leaders seeking to make changes in their congregation. It’s a slim book, emphasizing five clear strategies required for change:
- Do the Math
(vocal people have disproportionate impact) - Choose Your Focus
(zero-in on the change you envision and don’t swerve) - Find a Filter
(look for trusted people to give you perspective on congregational feedback) - Attack Problems, Not People
(self-explanatory!) - Don’t Quit
(often the greatest desire to quit comes just before success)
On the positive side, Nieuwhof has walked the walk. His experience leading dramatic change is evident throughout this book. There are many valuable insights throughout. Most significant was the first strategy: “Do the Math” (30–47). Dividing the congregation into early adopters, early majority, quiet majority, and opposition, he makes the point that vocal opposition to change carries a disproportionate weight in the leader’s ear. We tend to confuse “loud with large . . . volume with velocity” (37). This perspective seems obvious when written in black and white, but it’s far harder to feel when the opposition voices drown out the silent majority.
I do see some significant problems in his approach to change. First, there’s a lack of theological reflection. Although Nieuwhof weaves the narrative of Moses into this book, it feels like he’s shoehorned Moses in rather than explored deeper connections with the biblical narrative. That said, you didn’t buy this book for deep theological reflection but for practical advice!
Here’s my second qualm. With one small exception, Nieuwhof assumes that change is always the right path for leaders. There’s little warning to consider—to discern—whether the individualistic leader’s dream is right for the situation. Because of this, he often casts opponents to change in a needlessly pejorative light. For example, would you rather lose the 10% of your church who are early adopters or the 10% who oppose change? I suspect the Good Shepherd would seek out lost people from both these groups with equal vigour.
Perhaps other books in this series will address the communal (congregational) nature of discernment. In this book, it’s assumed that a sole visionary takes the reins.
Nieuwhof, Carey. Leading Change Without Losing It: Five Survival Strategies That Can Revolutionize How You Lead Change When Facing Opposition. ReThink, 2012.
