The Change Journey – Which Seat Are You In?

I’ve been leading seminars on congregational change for years. For as long as I can remember, I’ve used the analogy that organizational change is like riding in a sports car on a winding mountain road – it’s a thrill when you’re in the driver’s seat, but it can be terrifying to be the passenger. Lately, I’ve realized that this analogy is too simplistic. The thrills and dangers of a mountain road are an appropriate comparison, but we need to think about more than two seats in the car. Consider the following:

• Driver’s seat. The driver has the best view of the road that’s ahead and generally knows to slow down in order to navigate a turn or step on the gas to go up a hill. Because of this, the driver feels in control, which reduces his or her anxiety. After all, the driver never thinks, “I’m going to drive so recklessly that we’ll plunge off the cliff.”
• Passenger’s seat. The passenger also has a clear view of what’s ahead, but has no control. Because of this, the passenger often feels much more anxious than the driver. The same turn that gives the driver a boost of adrenaline gives the passenger a white-knuckled shot of anxiety. One thing that works in the passenger’s favor is a clear line of communication with the driver. They’re sitting next to each other, and the passenger can say, “Would you please slow down.”
• Back seat. The passengers in the back seat share one thing in common with the one in front – they have no direct control over how the car is driven. But those in back are at a significant disadvantage. Their view of the road ahead is obstructed, which makes it much more difficult for them to anticipate turns and changes in speed. As a result, they are much more prone to the nauseous feeling of carsickness. In addition, it is not as easy for them to communicate with the driver. They may have more trouble hearing him or being heard.

You may be thinking, isn’t God in the driver’s seat? (Depending on your musical tastes, you may even be humming “Jesus Take the Wheel.”) I think it’s more appropriate to think of God as the one who made the mountains and the road on which you’re traveling. It’s still your choice how fast or slow to go, or even whether to stay on the road. If you’re in a first chair role, you realize that you don’t have as much control as the driver of the car. The best cases of shared leadership are like a great navigator who helps the driver in unfamiliar territory. The worst case is a struggle for leadership, like a tug-of-war for the steering wheel – it’s guaranteed to end in a crash. It’s important to consider the different seats as you’re trying to lead change. In fact, you may find that you have many passengers that aren’t in any of these three spots. We’ll look at two more significant “seats,” as well as the implications for leaders, in the next blog. It’s easy to receive my blogs by email. Just sign-up on Feedburner by clicking here.]]>