Catalyst 1: Momentum

Granger Indiana

A creek without momentum becomes a pond, algae takes the oxygen and the water becomes progressively lifeless until it evaporates and turns to mud. I've been to places like that corporately and personally. 

In 2001 Bank One closed a division and I got laid off.  People were just turning things off.  Not much momentum.  In the mid 90's at the Indiana Department of Transportation, again there was zero motivation and very little momentum.   Long ago in a place far away(1980s) I was in a congregation that had basically grown satisfied with managing the building....deadness.  Worst of all was an "innovative" group that fought "the traditions of men" only to bind themselves in legalistic fear of "the world".....rather than becoming compassionate and free in the rush to bring healing and find God in the process.

"Catalyst: an agent that provokes or speeds significant change or action"

Freedom comes with momentum, that's what it felt like last week in at Catalyst with  Andy Stanley and Craig Groeschel.  Several Brothers searching for a better way carpooled to Granger IN last week --Scott, Ryan, Tim, Ross, Danny, Jeremiah and Brooks (aka Danny :).    A couple of the guys have written good summaries (Scott Himes, Ryan Crozier) Here is a bit (part 1) of what we learned:

"New" triggers momentum, positive or negative events lead to change (911, economy tanked, but  heroes were born).  Momentum is never triggered by tweaking something old with minor improvements, but with noticeable change (a Quantum Leap). 

Be Bold.  Often we try not to disturb people, small continuous incremental change, but that is not real change.  Momentum is however continuous improvement, a rhythm of systematic evaluation that requires unfiltered feedback.  Debrief is the key...Visit other organizations, people that you want to emulate.  Get inside their head, ask not what they do but how they think. 

Momentum stoppers: There is a healthy tension between Leader (bold vision) and manager (managing chaos towards predictability).  However we can't allow managers to "manage away" momentum.  Passivity, complacency, and complexity are created by age.  Sometimes have to rip out good "old" things to make a way in our personal or corporate life.   Finally, a breach of trust can be a real momentum stopper.

New implies that we remain dissatisfied (not discontent), and results in a process of gardening, growing and pruning. "Less is more" leads to corporate and personal opportunity as Craig described and Andy described later in the day (see next post).