Change Part Two

I saw an interview recently with Jack Welch (former CEO of GE). He said something along the lines that change can never be too fast. When he said that, my immediate thought was that he had never tried to lead a church - where change at any pace seems to be too fast.

I have often heard it said that, "The change at the church was implemented too fast," and that is why there is upset and sometimes outright revolt. But, I am beginning to think that no matter what the pace of the change is, it is going to bring resistance.

Within any group of people (such as a church congregation) there will be those who want change and those who do not want change. And, no matter what you do - change or not change - you are going to run into challenges. If you change, the resisters will either: a) stay and fight it, b) stay and sulk, or c) leave. If you don't change the changers will either: a) stay and fight it, b) stay and sulk, or c) leave. So, to word it more crudely, "Your damned if you do and your damned if you don't!"

When we change things up and it doesn't go as well as we hoped, I wonder if the question we ask ourselves is not about the pace of the change, but whether the change was necessary in the first place. If the change was necessary, then maybe Jack was right. It is a little like tearing off a bandaid. Do you rip it off quickly and get it over with, or pull slowly and drag out the pain.