Change Skills—one of the recommended leadership development competencies—include:

• Understanding the difference between unhealthy and creative conflict.
• Being knowledgeable about change theories and strategies.
• Understanding the difference between technical and adaptive challenges.

Core Values

We are the “Living Tradition” that continually engages with our practices and beliefs to discern the “permanent” from the “transient.” We know that we must continually breathe new life into our congregations.

Practices

• Practice one “change of the Day.”
• Switch roles with someone—at work, at play, at church or with the family.
• Spend time reflecting on specific changes using different models of change.
• Understand your own personality type or style when under stress using your favorite personality typing system (e.g.. Myers-Briggs, Enneagram, etc.).

Resources

Videos

• John Kotter: The Heart of Change (YouTube, 5:19)
• Ronald Heifetz: The nature of adaptive leadership (YouTube, 8:59)
• Robert Kegan: Immunity to Change (YouTube, 14:03)
• Failure (YouTube, 8:20): The Secret of Success
• Leading Change (YouTube, 18:46) with Gil Rendle at UU University
• The Rollercoaster of Change (YouTube, 11:50) with Gil Rendle at UU University
• Church Conflict (YouTube, 32:00)—A Systems Perspective with Peter Steinke at UU University
• "Two Loops Model" of change (6:56)—Berkana Institute (Margaret Wheatley and Deborah Frieze)
• “A Mediation Simulation” (YouTube) with Dr. Nancy Love of the PULSE Institute explains a five-part model of the meditation process

Web Articles

• John Kotter's 8-Step Change Model
• Finding the Optimal Level of Conflict by David R. Brubaker
• Lifecycle of Emergence: Using Emergence to Take Social Innovation to Scale By Margaret Wheatley and Deborah Frieze, 2006
• 7 times when it's not a good time to change by Ron Edmonson
• Respectfully Disagreeing: How Dialogue Works to Transform Conflict by Marlis McCollum
• How to Inspire Behavior Change by Karin Hurt
• A Short Primer on Congregational Hostage Negotiations by Derek Penwell
• Power of a Positive No (PDF) for Oxford Leadership by William Ury
• Leading in a Culture of Change by Jeffrey D. Jones
• Neophobia by Susan Nienaber

On-Demand Webinars

• 10 Good Ways to Manage Difficult Behavior with Nancy Combs Morgan and Lisa Presley
• Practicing Pluralism: Dealing with Conflict with Rev. Georgette Wonders and Rev. Ian Evison
• Leading Change in Our Congregations (YouTube) 2007 UU University with Alban Institute consultant Gil Rendle
• Overcoming Our Immunity to Change (YouTube, 36:56) with Dr. Tod Bolsinger presenting at the Presbytery of Los Ranchos.

Websites

• Congregational Size Theory for UU Congregations

Books

• Congregational Life Dynamics and Conflict Management (PDF, 23 pages): An Application of Family Systems Theory: Part 2: Conflict Management
• Conflict Management in Congregations David B. Lott, ed.
• Congregational Fitness: Healthy Practices for Layfolk by Denise W. Goodman
• Difficult Conversations: Taking Risks, Acting with Integrity by Katie Day
• Developing Your Conflict Competence: A Hands-On Guide for Leaders, Managers, Facilitators, and Teams by Craig E. Runde
• A Door Set Open: Grounding Change in Mission and Hope by Peter L. Steinke
• Leading Change in the Congregation by Gilbert Rendle
• Memories, Hopes, and Conversations: Appreciative Inquiry and Congregational Change by Mark Lau Branson
• The Practice of Adaptive Leadership: Tools and Tactics for Changing Your Organization and the World by Ron Heifetz, Marty Linsky, Alexander Grashow
• Leading Change Without Losing It: Five Strategies That Can Revolutionize How You Lead Change When Facing Opposition by Carey Nieuwhof