Today I want to talk to you about what strategy is right for you and your church. Often in churches, we think all our problems would be solved if we only had more money, or if we only had more resources or more staff members. However, the opposite is actually true. An abundance of resources does not lead you to your golden tomorrow. The reality is creativity and innovation abound when we lack resources. Necessity really is the mother of invention. So, let’s take a look.
This framework was adapted from the book Your Strategy Needs a Strategy. So, what is the best strategy for you in your current context? First, we need to determine if your context is predictable. Then how malleable, or shapeable, is your context. Your best approach will be where those two responses overlap.
If your context is predictable, but it’s not malleable, a classic approach would be best. Now, you can predict it, but you can’t really change it. Focus on what you can optimize in your stable environment.
Next, if your context is unpredictable, and it’s not malleable, then you are finding yourself using an adaptive approach. You can’t predict it, and you can’t change it. You need to be willing to adapt to whatever is needed.
If your context is predictable, and it’s malleable, then lucky you! Consider yourself a visionary and put yourself in that approach. You can predict it, and you can change it. Cast vision to get others onboard and influence the current culture.
If your context is unpredictable and malleable, then you are in a shaping position. The beautiful thing about the shaping position is that you can change it because the rules haven’t been written yet. You can collaborate with others around you and cast and scale that vision even in the midst of uncertainty.
Now that you understand the four approaches to strategy, what are you going to do about it?
