Leading Through ChangeSample

The fourth principle we can learn from the Apostles and how they led the church is that leaders continually lead change by building unity around a higher purpose.

One of the biggest challenges to change is that it can reveal or even cause fractures in the team's culture. You've seen this as sides form around a proposed change or as ideas are presented as polar opposites, when in fact, they are not. This reality of human nature was no different in the early days of the church. Acts 10 and 15 demonstrate how to initialize and maintain change by building unity around a higher purpose.

As Peter completes his first call to change, he leads them to a higher purpose (Acts 11:17). By pointing them back to that higher purpose, Peter was able to calm their immediate concerns and rebuild unity around that higher purpose (Acts 11:18). This consensus, however, would not last forever.  

By Acts 15, Peter would again be confronted by those who opposed the change he was introducing. Some men had come to the gentile believers, teaching them that salvation could not be had unless they continued to adhere to Mosaic customs (v 1). After great debate, it was decided that Paul, Barnabas, and some others should ask the Apostles and elders in Jerusalem to give clarity regarding the change (v 2). The confusion about implementing the change abounded with even some in Jerusalem seeking clarification (v 5). Upon hearing that confusion about how the change would be implemented and actualized, we see the response of the early church leaders:

And the apostles and the elders came together to look into this matter. - Acts 15:6

They didn't immediately reject the questions, and they didn't belittle those who asked. Instead, they understood that greater clarity was needed, and they first ensured they agreed with one another as the leadership team (v 6). Then, after discussion and debate (v 7), Peter led the public presentation to clarify the nature of the change. At this moment, Peter again presents clarity while appealing to the higher purpose for which they were united (v 11 - 12).  

APPLICATION/ REFLECTION:

Like Peter, transformational leaders understand that leading change means continually pointing the team back to a higher purpose. Regardless of the context, transformational leaders root the change in something beyond themselves. In a church or non-profit, this may look like pointing the congregation or team to scripture or a higher moral purpose, but the same is true in business leadership. As a business leader, leading change may look like pointing your team back to how this change better serves the stakeholders, customers, and the organization's mission and vision.

As you lead change, always be clear, consistent, and compelling as you seek to continually cast the vision for change by building unity around a higher purpose.

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