Introducing a New Idea

Introducing new ideas is challenging. Church consultant, Charles Arn, provides a primer in how to introduce new ideas. He says, “…[church] members will likely fall into one of five groups:”

1. Innovators – the visionaries;
2. Early Adopters – first on board;
3. Middle Adopters – while inclined to the status quo they will consider the proposal;
4. Late Adopters – last to endorse the idea;
5. Never Adopters – seldom if ever accept a new idea.

He suggests a leader:

• Realizes not everyone will be happy, but gets people to express their opinions early.
• Accepts that some people will leave regardless of the outcome.
• Directs the conversation on the Middle Adopters. The Innovators and Early Adopters will accept, the Late Adopters and the Never Adopters are hard, if not impossible sells. The Middle Adopters like stability, but will give a fair hearing: they need to be taken from the hands of the critics.
• Make Early Adopters your allies.

With this in mind, introduce the idea as:

1. a way to reach an agreed-upon goal;
2. an addition not a replacement;
3. a short-term experiment, not a long-term commitment;
4. the foundation upon which to add enhancements from the congregation.

Bill Zelazny, District Executive (BCD in Brief, 9/2003)