The Enduring Skills of Change Leaders
by Rosabeth Moss Kanter
An article by one of the most astute business researchers and writers, Rosabeth Moss Kanter. As with many leadership articles, this one focuses on business organizations, but the chief challenges she proposes -- globalization and technology -- affect congregations and congregational members' lives in ways that make these ideas applicable to the congregation, too.
Excerpt:
Change -- adept organizations share three key attributes, each associated with a particular role for leaders.
- The imagination to innovate. To encourage innovation, effective leaders help develop new concepts -- the ideas, models, and applications of technology that set an organization apart.
- The professionalism to perform. Leaders provide personal and organizational competence, supported by workforce training and development, to execute flawlessly and deliver value to ever more demanding customers.
- The openness to collaborate. Leaders make connections with partners who can extend the organization's reach, enhance its offerings, or energize its practices.