My definition of paradigm is simply… “A way of thinking that leads to a way of doing!”

 

When it comes to shifting patterns or modes of living, particularly as leaders, there are two things that I believe should be borne in mind.

 

Firstly, the problem isn’t what you DON’T know; the problem is what you DO know. Many of our actions stem from deep-seated belief systems that we thought we’d changed. Secondly, whilst trying to change other people’s paradigms, the bottom line is that paradigm change starts in YOU as the leader, before those who God has entrusted you to lead.

 

Here is something I’ve experienced about changing paradigms…

 

“If you want to change a paradigm, then create an environment that is conducive to change.”

 

About 15 years ago, God started to shake my world and challenge my personal paradigm, even before I knew what one was. At that time I had to change my environment in order to allow a new pattern to take shape. As I looked at our environment as a church back then (which had also become my personal paradigm), I observed the following:

 

1.     We were FUNDAMENTALISTS… But to things that weren’t fundamental.

2.     We were DOGMATISTS… We thought we had it right and sometimes arrogantly so.

3.     We were IGNORAMUSES in relation to leadership… We were trained for ministry and read theology books, but ignored leadership dynamics.

4.     We were ISOLATIONISTS… We lived within our denominational bubble, and not encouraged to mix beyond it.

 

…that environment was our paradigm.

 

How could I ever possibly have a paradigm shift living within that kind of environment?

From God rocking my boat called “paradigm,” I began to change the environment that surrounded my life by actively doing some stuff that went against the grain of my training.

 

I discovered in this process that there was other truth out there that I needed to grasp for change. I started to read wider than my sacred bookshelf, whilst mixing (sorry, did I use the word mixing?) with “the others” who placed appropriate question marks over my historical belief systems.

 

By doing this, it created ample space for my mindsets to be challenged, and my behaviour to change accordingly to make the appropriate paradigm shift.

 

If you want to change a paradigm, then firstly create an environment that is conducive to produce it.