Canoeing the Mountains

1. The World Has Changed: Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territory

"All that we have assumed about leading Christian organizations, all that we have been trained for, is out of date. We have left the map, we are in uncharted territory, and it is different than we expected."

The context has shifted. The transition from Christendom to a post-Christendom world requires church leaders to adapt their approach. Traditional methods of ministry and leadership are no longer effective in a culture where Christianity has lost its central position.

New skills are needed. Leaders must develop adaptive capacity to navigate this unfamiliar landscape. This involves:

• Learning to ask new questions rather than relying on old answers
• Embracing experimentation and innovation
• Developing resilience in the face of uncertainty

The challenge is akin to Lewis and Clark discovering mountains where they expected rivers. Leaders must be prepared to "canoe mountains" - adapting their methods to suit the new reality they face.

2. Technical Competence Builds Credibility for Transformation

"Before people will follow you off the map, gain the credibility that comes from demonstrating competence on the map."

Establish trust through competence. Leaders must first demonstrate proficiency in essential areas before attempting to lead major changes. This involves:

• Stewardship of Scripture and tradition
• Care for souls and communities
• Management of teams and tasks

Balance old and new. While developing new skills for uncharted territory, leaders must not neglect the foundational competencies that build credibility. People are more likely to follow a leader into the unknown if they trust their abilities in familiar territory.

This principle is exemplified by Lewis and Clark, who earned their men's trust through their river navigation skills before venturing into the mountains.

3. Relational Congruence: The Foundation of Trust

"Relational congruence is the ability to be fundamentally the same person with the same values in every relationship, in every circumstance and especially amidst every crisis."

Consistency builds trust. Leaders must demonstrate authenticity and alignment between their words and actions across all relationships and situations. This involves:

• Maintaining healthy boundaries
• Communicating clear expectations
• Staying focused on the mission while caring for people

Trust is essential for change. In uncharted territory, followers need to trust their leaders implicitly. Relational congruence creates the "holding environment" necessary for people to feel safe enough to embrace change and take risks.

Leaders should strive to be like a thermostat, regulating the emotional temperature of the organization to create an atmosphere conducive to growth and transformation.

4. Adaptive Leadership: Learning, Loss, and Competing Values

"Adaptive leadership is about 'letting go, learning as we go, and keeping going.' It's about loss, learning and gaps."

Embrace adaptive challenges. Unlike technical problems with known solutions, adaptive challenges require new learning and often involve loss. Leaders must:

• Identify what is essential to preserve
• Determine what can be discarded
• Create space for experimentation and innovation

Navigate competing values. Adaptive work often reveals tensions between different organizational values. Leaders must help their communities:

• Recognize these tensions
• Make difficult choices
• Manage the losses that come with change

The adaptive process involves cycles of observation, interpretation, and intervention. Leaders must cultivate a learning posture and help their organizations do the same.

5. Staying Calm and Connected in the Face of Resistance

"Leadership is disappointing your own people at a rate they can absorb."

Expect and manage resistance. Change inevitably produces anxiety and opposition. Leaders must:

• Anticipate sabotage as a normal part of the change process
• Stay connected to resistors rather than avoiding them
• Regulate their own emotional reactions to stay calm

Focus on mission, not personal approval. Effective leaders prioritize the organization's mission over their own need for acceptance. They make decisions based on "Blue Zone" thinking (focused on mission) rather than "Red Zone" reactions (driven by personal survival, acceptance, competence, or control).

Staying calm and connected allows leaders to keep the change process moving forward while providing a stabilizing presence for their community.

6. Collaboration is Key: No One Leads Alone

"There is a noble but deeply misguided belief that leadership requires broad shoulders and an ability to stand under pressures alone."

Build a leadership team. Effective leadership in uncharted territory requires diverse perspectives and shared responsibility. Leaders should:

• Identify and cultivate allies, confidants, and partners
• Create a "transformation team" to guide change efforts
• Engage opponents and dissenters in productive dialogue

Learn from the margins. Those who have been on the periphery of power in Christendom often have valuable insights for navigating post-Christendom realities. Leaders should:

• Seek out voices from different cultural and theological backgrounds
• Practice "reverse mentoring" with younger leaders
• Cultivate humility and a learner's posture

The Lewis and Clark expedition exemplifies the power of collaboration, particularly through their partnership with Sacagawea and other indigenous guides.

7. Transformation Begins with the Leader

"The more committed we are to our own transformation, the better leader we will be."

Personal growth is essential. Leaders cannot guide others through transformation without experiencing it themselves. This involves:

• Ongoing self-reflection and learning
• Willingness to face personal losses and challenges
• Developing new skills and capacities

Model adaptive behavior. Leaders must embody the change they wish to see in their organizations. This includes:

• Demonstrating vulnerability and admitting uncertainty
• Engaging in continuous learning and experimentation
• Maintaining a non-anxious presence in the face of challenges

The journey into uncharted territory is ultimately about the transformation of both the leader and the community. As leaders grow and adapt, they create space for others to do the same, ultimately enabling the organization to fulfill its mission in a changing world.

Last updated: December 11, 2024