Tod Bolsinger – Canoeing the Mountains & Leading Change
Jan 30, 2024
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Tod Bolsinger, an author and leader in church and nonprofit leadership, joins Tim Foot to discuss adaptive leadership in a rapidly changing world. He emphasizes the importance of shifting from traditional practices to experimental approaches in the wake of COVID-19. Tod shares insights from his book, detailing how personal sacrifice and self-denial can lead to transformation. He also addresses the gap in church leadership training and highlights the significance of fostering trust and support within teams to navigate challenges and turn them into opportunities.
Adaptive leadership requires leaders to embrace continuous learning and experimentation while letting go of outdated practices that hinder growth.
Establishing trust within teams is essential, but leaders must also engage in open communication to drive meaningful transformation amidst change.
Deep dives
Navigating Change in Leadership
Leaders often face the undeniable challenge of adapting to change, especially in today’s fast-paced cultural landscape. Drawing on historical metaphors like the Lewis and Clark expedition, one must learn to 'canoe over mountains' rather than being confined to previous successful methods. The realization that past strategies may no longer be effective is crucial for growth; leaders must embrace new paradigms that prioritize learning. This shift in perspective fosters a more agile leadership style necessary for thriving in an environment characterized by uncertainty and rapid transformations.
Addressing Resistance to Change
Post-pandemic, many churches exhibit a tendency to revert to familiar practices, creating resistance to new methods of leadership. This reaction is linked to human anxiety, as individuals instinctively seek comfort in the known during periods of disruption. Effective leaders should view pushback not as an obstacle but as an opportunity for transformation and engagement. By reframing resistance as a chance to cultivate buy-in rather than enforcing compliance, leaders can motivate their communities towards shared goals.
The Importance of Adaptive Leadership
Adaptive leadership emphasizes the necessity of continual learning and growth within leaders as they navigate complex environments. This approach requires acknowledging the reality that there can be no specific answers amid rapid change; instead, leaders must prototype solutions that allow for experimentation and feedback. By letting go of outdated practices and being open to change, leaders can help their organizations become the healthiest representations of their mission. Adapting successfully means valuing the mission above personal ego and being willing to release past methods that no longer serve the community.
Building Trust and Transformation
Establishing trust is foundational for leaders aiming to facilitate transformation within their teams. While trust fosters a supportive environment, it is crucial for leaders to recognize that trust alone does not equate to transformation. Both elements are necessary for meaningful change, but leaders must actively engage their teams in the transformation process by encouraging open communication and collaboration. By nurturing an environment of trust and commitment to the mission, leaders can guide their congregations towards significant and lasting change.
What is adaptive leadership? Tod Bolsinger, an author and leader in the fields of church and nonprofit leadership, sits down with Tim Foot, CEO of Slingshot Group, to discuss the need for adaptive leadership in a changing world. He also shares the inspiration behind his book 'Canoeing the Mountains' and highlights the need for trust, alignment with God's purposes, and building remarkable and healthy church teams.
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