10 Signs You’re not Ready for Change

January 21, 2007 in Leadership with 9 Comments

It’s been way too long since I’ve shared a Top 10 list. And, I know you too well. You crave the Top 10 lists. They make your brain happy.

With that in mind, here’s a list that’s been percolating in my mind. This list is true in ministry, but I know this same list also applied when I was leading in the marketplace. Here are the…

10 Signs You’re not Ready for Change

  1. You see other organizations as the competition instead of the idea incubators.
  2. You’re trying to avoid criticism that comes when you fail…and when you succeed.
  3. You’re afraid of the culture.
  4. Your life is fast and cluttered and there’s no space to dream.
  5. You value getting it right over getting started.
  6. You believe conflict is a bad thing.
  7. You’ve stopped asking questions.
  8. You think systems and strategy are the enemy of creativity.
  9. You’re expecting to receive credit for your ideas.
  10. You think you’ve already arrived.

The question is less about whether or not your organization is ready for change–the bigger question is are you ready for change? So, are you?

That’s my take. What am I missing? What would you add to the list?

9 Responses to “10 Signs You’re not Ready for Change”

  1. Cory Miller January 21, 2007 at 1:38 pm #

    Tony, right on! I love this … it humbles me, convicts me, and makes me WANT to change myself as well.

    I love the phrase “idea incubators.” You hit on a major problem in many churches — competitive jealousy.

    I’m right down the street from one of the fastest growing, most innovative churches around. I don’t view them as “hostile” but many do. And I enjoy watching and learning how they do things and thinking through whether or not it would work in our church … and also appropriate for our particular context.

    Great post!

  2. Chris Goeppner January 22, 2007 at 10:13 am #

    nice.
    this one was real good: “2. You’re trying to avoid criticism that comes when you fail…and when you succeed.”
    i dread crticism. it one of those things i need and should desire for growth, but ouch!

  3. Todd January 22, 2007 at 10:29 am #

    Tony, can you expand on what you mean on number 5? To me, that smacks of not being a finisher.

    The reason I ask is I’m in an advertising agency as an account executive. It’s my job to start and finish jobs. I’m really good at starting, not so much at closing.

    I’m looking for some validation for my actions!

  4. tony morgan January 22, 2007 at 10:47 am #

    Todd, “finishing” is essential. This post, however, is about change. And, unfortunately, some of us are recovering perfectionists and finishing isn’t the challenge. Getting started is the challenge. Because we think it has to be perfect, we keep on wanting to tweak something to guarantee success up front and we end up getting paralyzed in the process. I’m learning that often times it’s better to get started and make improvements as I go rather than trying to get it right the first time. Make sense?

    tony

  5. Scott January 22, 2007 at 11:08 am #

    Agree. I have to fight the perfectionist mentality often. It’s much easier for me to “perfect” what is already happening than start something new. I’ve held to the mantra, “If I’m going to do it, do it right.” Although that’s not necessarily a bad thing, I’ve learned it can cripple any intentions of starting something new.

  6. Ryan Day January 22, 2007 at 11:18 am #

    #4 is HUGE!

    If you have no space to dream, all you get is the same old thing. I have started allowing time (scheduling it) for time to just open my head & heart. I think that this was made so clear to me @ the Willowcreek L-ship Summit during Wayne Cordeiro’s talk.

  7. MIchelle Van Loon January 22, 2007 at 2:45 pm #

    Found my way here from the Monday Morning Insight link -

    I’d add this #11: “You either patronize or demonize those in your organization who ask questions and dream dreams.”

    It has been my experience that leaders who fear change will find ways to shut down those around them who push against the status quo.

  8. Reformissionary January 22, 2007 at 7:31 pm #

    Church Leader Roundup

    Here are a few things I’ve read recently that you might want to check out. Kent Shaffer: 5 Ways Your Church Can Build Trust In Your CommunityMark Driscoll: Twenty Leadership Questions for Building a City Within the City (including Driscollian

  9. Run with God January 31, 2007 at 9:38 pm #

    10 Signs You’re NOT Ready for Change

    10 Signs You’re NOT Ready for Change (Taken from Tony Morgan’s Blog): You see other organizations as the competition instead of the idea incubators. You’re trying to avoid criticism that comes when you fail…and when you succeed. You’re afraid of