The Importance of Innovation
Next up: Realize that innovation is crucial for any individual, group or organization, including the church. Peter Drucker, the father of modern management, said, “In a period of rapid change, the only ones who survive are those who innovate and create change.”
In today’s fast-paced environment, change is the only certainty. Accept that it will always be with us. See change as an opportunity, not a threat. Talk about it positively, and help people not fear it.
Both management and entrepreneurship are essential, according to Drucker. We need both at the same time, and they must be coordinated and cooperative. We must not just manage the existing but rather innovate the new and different.
It’s so easy to become busy managing what currently exists that we fail to improve what we’re doing. As church leaders, we must work on tomorrow, not just keep up with today. That’s what innovation is all about.
Creativity expert Edward de Bono said, “Creativity is the most important resource of all. Without creativity, there will be no progress, and we will forever repeat the same patterns.” He added, “Creative thinking is not a talent, it is a skill that can be learnt. It empowers people by adding strength to their natural abilities, which improves teamwork, productivity and where appropriate profits.”
Proverbs 18:15 says, “Intelligent people are always open to new ideas; in fact, they look for them.” We serve a creative God who, though His character never changes, designed a world full of variety and freshness. God created us in His image. So we should seek to make our life and ministry fresh and alive.
7 Ways To Foster Creativity
Here are ways we can become more creative in ministry:
1. Make time for thinking creatively.
Set aside regular time for brainstorming by yourself. Better still, brainstorm with other people—especially with your teams. Think creatively. Research should be everybody’s preoccupation, and innovation is everybody’s game.
Leadership expert Warren Bennis said, “The organizations of the future will increasingly depend on the creativity of their members to survive. Great groups offer a new model in which the leader is an equal among titans. In a truly creative collaboration, work is pleasure, and the only rules and procedures are those that advance the common cause.”
2. Ask good questions.
Regularly ask yourself, “What’s working well, and why?” and “What’s not working and why?” Good questions help us gain a new perspective on our current situation.
3. Generate lots of new ideas.
The more ideas you have, the better. Thomas Edison once said, “To have a great idea, have a lot of ideas.” He also said, “Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration!”
4. Listen and learn.
Next, be a strategic listener. Expose yourself to different viewpoints. Study people’s needs and ideas, then look for future trends. We can learn something from everyone, if we just listen attentively.
5. Think outside the box.
Create an atmosphere within your team that says, “Let’s find a better way.” Always be looking for a new idea to improve or expand your ministry. Admit where things are no longer working and make appropriate changes. Don’t get stuck with a mentality that says, “That’s the way we’ve always done it.” When something seems impossible, find a way. (Read Mark 2:1-5 for a good example.) What annoys you? Frustration is a catalyst to innovation!
6. Don’t be afraid of failure.
Be willing to take a risk. Conduct an experiment. Just try something new and different. Learn to celebrate failure, not just tolerate it. Learn to fail forward. Thomas Watson said, “Success is on the far side of failure.” Leadership thinker Margaret Wheatley said, “The things we fear the most in organizations—fluctuations, disturbances, imbalances—are the primary sources of creativity.”
7. Have fun!
Last but not least… We need to take God more seriously and ourselves less seriously. Learn to laugh at yourself and enjoy the journey. So let’s step up our motivation for creativity!
