Step 6. Structure follows strategy (strategy does not follow structure)

A great challenge for those of us who are trying to lead a change process is that we have existing structures in place which appear almost impossible to change. We want to try new things, or simply make a small but significant change, but the structures in the system are too strong. The people in the system always resist change and want to restore equilibrium/status quo.
The truth we must face and act upon is that structure follows strategy. Strategy determines structures. The structures most of us have, of Sunday services along with various ministries and programs, are the product of a strategy that needs to change. The strategy was to bring people to us, visit our site, and find Christ. If you want a different strategy you will need different structures. You cannot pursue a new strategy for making disciples without altering your structures.

Time for a deep breath, and prayer. Here’s where all the ‘leading change’ stuff is helpful. Most church leaders have never been trained in implementing change, yet taking those you lead on a journey of change is one of the most important skills a pastor needs [ACOM has a great course]. In my book The Journey Ahead, I wrote: “An important, immediate function of church leadership is to take people on a journey of constant adaptation to change. When the expectation among church members is that leaders provide stability rather than engineer change, taking people on such a journey becomes very difficult”. Courage is needed to lead and model change!

John Kotter and others have great books on leading organizational change. A key factor for churches of course, is to make clear the priority of discipleship formation. If that is the goal and the strategy is to encourage personal life-change, then organizational structures are required that are additional to what you already have, to facilitate formation. A proven change strategy is to add something new and allow time for change forces to work and people to adjust, rather than suddenly replace the old with the new - eg start a new structure that facilitates authenticity, support and accountability, such as same-gender triplets or Neil Cole’s Life Transformation Groups. Whatever the structure you start, it begins with you – you must shape the group you start. You can also seek to shape the groups you already lead, such as a ministry team, elders and church council.

Evolution is a softer journey than revolution, but there is a place for major structural changes. Stopping a program, changing service structures or beginning a new initiative in the community needs careful strategy and courageous leadership – all seriously undergirded by prayer. The point (made earlier) of laying a preaching foundation is to pursue God’s agenda in bringing people to see themselves as disciples wanting to become like Jesus, where change is their agenda and God’s Spirit is their agent. But modelling of new emphases by the senior leader and other leaders is crucial.

Preaching and educating people does not produce life-change. Structures are needed to help people on their journey. Start with the introduction of small initiatives that you are a part of, which of course requires you to choose what you will stop doing.