How well are you leading?

It is not only the follower or employee that resists change, but also many leaders. Some people just do not handle it very well. Change is hard, and it is not always something that is welcome. Since change is doing or participating in something new peopleresist it and they resist it for many different reasons. According to John Maxwell a few of these reasons are, “it will get them out of their routine, it creates fear of the unknown, it creates fear of failure (good at current job, not sure if they can do anything different), people are too satisfied with the way things are, it may mean personal loss or additional commitment, and again the list goes on.”

Since it is guaranteed that there will be people in an organization that will resist change, it is important for the leader to create a climate that encourages people to change. If a leader is going to create a climate of change he must be the prime mover, the change must start with him and be modeled by him. If the leader is not doing what he is telling the followers to do, then the change the leader is promoting is going to be hard to sell. The leader must gain the trust of the followers or employees so they will buy in to the idea of change because the leader is dependable and can be trusted to have the best motives and best intensions at heart. Also, it is important that the leader give ownership of the change to the followers or employees. If they have completely bought into this change and have made it their own then the change is on its way to being made.

Again change is going to occur. We as leaders must be willing to lead in the midst of it and continue to be servant leaders as we help our teams succeed through something they may not fully understand. I hope this discussion has given each of you reading this blog the desire to lead and to lead well. May God continue to bless each of you and your families.