I am often confronted with issues where one person has wronged another person.  At times people expect me, as the pastor, to enforce morals on people in order to change them.  Some how they believe if I talk to them, I can “force” them to change their ways.

I have learned one principle well.  Rules never change people.

It doesn’t matter how many you have, how strictly you enforce them, or even how loyal people are to obey them.  Rules alone never change a person.  Rules are often necessary to protect and bring order to chaos, but for people to change a heart has to change.

Heart changes change people, not rules.  Jesus working in a person’s life changes people, not more rules.

You may even be able to force someone to obey the rules…for a time, but compliance alone never indicates a true change of heart.

If you want me to speak to someone’s heart, I will.  If you want me to introduce them to Jesus, I would love to, but please don’t expect me to place rules on them that they will most likely not obey and that certainly will never truly change them.

Have you tried to change people with rules?  Did it work?

Do taste buds change as you get older?

I know I could probably Google this question and get an answer, but I figure my readers will have an answer for me.  Is it just me, or do our tastes change over the years?

Just in the last couple years I’ve learned to love some things I once said I would never eat/drink.

Things like:

Diet drinks
Blue Cheese dressing
Seafood
Creamed spinach
Thousand Island dressing  (Just discovered I love it on the plane ride from Africa)

Have your tastes for things changed over the years?

What do you like now that you once couldn’t stand?

It’s a classic example. You’ve seen it happen many times. Your ball team is behind in the game. The referee makes what you and the rest of your team’s fans believe is a bad call. It energizes the crowd and the team and helps spur your team on to victory.

That example illustrates a principle of organizational dynamics also:

Sometimes a little change, even a little drama, will motivate a team into action.

If things are becoming dull or routine in your organization, as the leader you may need to stir up some change, even if it seems disruptive at the time. There are times to change just for the sake of creating more energy. This doesn’t mean you change your overall vision and your attempt should be to make a positive change, but if things are stagnating some change may be needed. It would almost be better to have a change that didn’t work than to allow things continue at a standstill.

I fully believe this principle is true. Knowing when to use it is obviously critical, but don’t allow fear of making a mistake keep you from doing the right thing. Ask yourself this question: If nothing changes in your organization, where will the momentum on your team be a year or two from now? If the answer isn’t what you want it to be, it may be time for some change.

Is this a hard principle for you or are you a lover of change?

I love development within an organization.  I love to make things better.  I previously wrote about three activities every organization and everyone in the organization must do to be healthy; growth, maintenance and development.  (Read that post HERE.)  Each of us tend to specialize or prefer one of those activities and mine is development.  Development, by the way, is often the one neglected by organizations and/or leaders.  We tend to push growth and then we attempt to maintain the growth. Over time, however, growth stalls unless things are developed (made better).

Development involves asking questions, thinking how things can be made better and desiring consistent improvement.  The problem for developers is that we get push back from those that prefer growth or maintenance.  (Or those who operate out of fear or insecurity.  I wrote about that HERE.)

As I see it, we often confuse critical thinking with negativity. I realize some people don’t know how to think critically without being negative, and some people can never celebrate the moment, but because of that, we often think of the word criticism and automatically take it personal. We develop turf wars over our areas.  Fear keeps us from being open to critique.  Critical thinking, however, when used correctly, is an effort to think towards making things better for the good of the organization and everyone on the team, not attacking a particular person or program.

Whenever people reject evaluation, I’m always tempted to ask:

• What are you afraid of people finding out if they question your decisions?
• What are you running from when you avoid critical thinking?
• If you want improvement, how will it come if you don’t critique/evaluate?

Don’t be afraid to think critically about your area or allow others on your team to help you do so.  Your best days may be still to come if you will welcome critical thinking.

What do you think about when you hear the words critical thinking?

One of my pet peeves as a leader has been for people to refuse to try something new or fail to follow through on a project; giving up before it’s completed, because they think they do not feel they know how to do the task. I encounter far too many people that want responsibility or leadership assignments, but they are not willing to invest the time and energy it takes to learn the requirements of the task.

Here’s my bottom line on the subject:

“I don’t know how” is not a good enough excuse…

Be willing to learn something new…or get a new response…

Unless you are a dog, you can learn some new tricks…

Regardless of your age…income…background…

What’s something new you need to or want to learn how to do?

Will Wal Mart always be on top of the retail world?  Chances are they will still be at the end of this week…at least in my family (and most likely yours), but will they be forever?

I remember in my undergraduate studies a professor of marketing say that no one could ever replace Sears as the number one retailer.  Of course, looking back, that was a naïve comment.  It’s easy to assume that Wal Mart will continue their dominance of the retail world, but recently, due to the economy, they have experienced greater competition from the discounters and the higher end retailers.   What will their future be? Still not certain they could ever be in jeopardy, consider THIS ARTICLE I read this week.

I am not trying to be a doomsayer for Wal Mart.  We do our share of business there.  I think, however, that remembering history and changes in the retail industry should remind all of us that things change…sometimes quickly…or at least it seems that way when we finally recognize the change.  None of us in successful organizations should take that success for granted.

If your organization is achieving success today, what are you doing to make sure that growth continues?

Read more about Innovation, Change, and Sustainability.

This video from Ted blows my mind. I love big dreams…I love mind-stretching exercises…this one helps me think bigger than I might normally think. It’s 18 minutes long, but it’s worth watching. Whether you agree with this line of thinking or solution to global problems is not the issue here, but feel free to share them. I’m sharing this because I love how big Paul Romer is thinking.

What do you think? Will this work? More than that, does it make you think bigger?

Pretend for a moment that this is your scenario…

You are a leader.  You worked hard, experienced some sense of success and now you like where you are in your career. You have finally figured out the system, got the right staff or team, and there are no current problems.  Life is comfortable.

My advice:  Now may be the best time to consider a change.

The fact is that if you are comfortable now, you will likely be bored soon.  Leaders need change, stretching, and an opportunity to improve something to stay excited.

You don’t necessarily have to leave your organization, or even your current position.  You may already be at the top, but you may need to expand your responsibilities.  You may need to dream a new dream.  You may need to challenge yourself outside your comfort zone again.

It’s what keeps leaders motivated!

For more on this thought process, read my previous post: One Contrast Between a Leaders and Managers.

This time of year, many typically reflect on the year that is gone and wonder what lies ahead in the New Year. Sadly, many of those same people will end 2010 no better off than they ended 2009 or any other year, because they will continue to repeat the same mistakes and live out the same bad patterns and habits they have always lived.

If you want to make genuine, sustaining changes this year, consider your answers to the following five questions. For best results, write your answers to these questions on paper. There is a certain finality of purpose when you invest time and energy recording them.

Is my life headed in the right direction? If you continue living your life the way you have been living it, will you eventually achieve the dreams and plans you have for your life? If not, then move to question number two.

Am I willing to make changes? You will never make change that lasts if your heart is not into making them. Be honest.

What are a few changes I can make that could have the greatest impact? Don’t try to change too much at one time. It could be in your finances, health, relationships or church attendance, but usually a few changes, whether major or minor, will have significant impact. If you are overwhelmed with the changes needed, read THIS POST.

What disciplines are needed to realize these changes in my life? You may need to get up 15 minutes early each day. Perhaps you need to read one chapter of a book each night. Maybe you want to start taking your lunch to work to save money. Think through some practical ways you can discipline yourself to stay on track.

Who can hold me accountable? Recruit someone to help you achieve your objectives. Give them the changes you want to implement and allow them the freedom to question your progress periodically. Ultimately your success is dependent on you, but knowing you will be asked often keeps you moving in the right direction.

This is a great year for changes to occur. I hear frequently that 2009 was a difficult year for many. There appears to be a renewed hope in the year 2010. Many of the outcomes the New Year brings, however, will be greatly determined by your willingness to allow positive changes in your life. Let me encourage you to make wise choices for a positive and productive year.

One important closing thought. It is my firm belief that the only way to experience real life, the way we were intended to live it, is through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. If you do not have that relationship or it is not as strong as it should be, start there. If you need help, email me at ronedmondson@me.com

What changes are you making in 2010?

I rearranged my office this weekend.  It wasn’t a whim.  Those that know me know I’m not wired very much for spur of the moment decisions.  This office makeover was definitely purposeful.

Here are a few of the reasons for changing my office:

1. I am expecting 2010 to be a huge year at Grace Community Church.  It may require sacrifice of me and others.  The office change is a visual picture of my willingness to embrace the changes to come.
2. One of my chief initiatives for the new year is to improve my communication with the staff.  The office change puts my desk against the wall, rather than in the middle of the room.  I have removed a barrier between me and the person I am meeting with at the time.  I will now have to turn my back to my computer and will be better at giving my full attention to others.
3. I get bored easily when things remain the same.  I needed a change to pump my enthusiasm.
4. I know in advance I will be working harder this year.  I wanted more pictures of my family in my office, so I don’t loose focus of what is most important in life.
5. I plan to hit the ground running in January, and there will be little time to rearrange furniture.

This may seem like a simple change to you, but to me it’s a significant example of the days ahead.

What do you need to change in order to achieve all the plans God has for you in 2010? This week is a great week to dream about changes you may need to make in the coming year.

(I spoke about the subject of change this Sunday, you can listen HERE.)