History has shown that the one constant of life is change. Individuals and organizations who learn that change is not the enemy, but that it is the way, are poised to learn, lead and lift others.
This weekend in Salt Lake City, Russell M. Nelson, president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which owns this paper, is demonstrating how to lead the many and the one on the path of change. Observers of the church recognize in President Nelson a rare leader who not only understands change is not the enemy, but demonstrates how change is the way forward. In doing so he shows how change and progress don’t require the abandonment of core values and critical principles worthy of conserving.
Observers of the church recognize in President Nelson a rare leader who not only understands change is not the enemy, but demonstrates how change is the way forward.
Initiating and implementing change in large organizations is difficult at best and disastrous at worst. Business consultants and leadership experts note the many barriers to embracing, and then leading others through, change, including being comfortable with the status quo, pride and distrust. One of the great obstacles for change is fear, particularly the fear of losing power or control.
Currently that fear is paralyzing the nation on a number of fronts. Higher education continues to be trapped in an archaic system with spiraling costs, diminishing return and not nearly enough innovation to prepare students for the jobs of the future.
The fear of losing control of the curriculum approval, accreditation requirements or research dollars is locking in the status quo and preventing the institutions that are embracing change, right here in Utah, from accelerating innovation.
Health care is another industry where fear is driving far too many decisions from Washington and toward drug manufacturers and insurance companies. Sadly, the fear of losing power, profits and control is preventing the American people from being able to make their own health care decisions with their own doctor.
Elected officials have become increasingly afraid of losing power, to the point most of them are afraid of their own shadow. More decisions are being made by individual politicians and institutions based on the next election or by how much money can be raised from any given issue.
Businesses of all kinds would do well to observe and emulate the change-embracing approach of a world religious leader like President Nelson. It is change based on trusting people and empowering them to become part of the change.
Students of leadership are fascinated that the 95-year-old prophet-president has become the symbol of change, not only to the 16-million-member global church, but to humanitarian, government and civic organizations he visits as he travels the world at breakneck speed.
President John F. Kennedy was correct when he said, “Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” Change is not the enemy — change is the way.