The EquipCast

Episode 192: How to Lead Change Without Losing Your People

Episode  |  September 9th, 2025  |  48 mins 48 secs

adaptive change, archdiocese of omaha, brian miller, catholic, catholic ministry, change management, christian podcast, church innovation, church leadership, coach approach ministries, coaching ministry, disciples, equipcast, evangelism, evangelization, faith and change, jim jansen, leadership development, leading through uncertainty, making disciples, managing change, organizational change, pastoral leadership, religious leadership, spiritual growth, temptation bundling, vision casting

How do you lead change when you don’t know where you are going (yet)? Today I sit down with Brian Miller, a change management expert from Coach Approach Ministries, to talk about adaptive change. Adaptive change is when you know something needs to change, but you don’t yet know what the solution is. It’s not just fixing a broken pipe—it’s realizing the whole plumbing system might need to be rethought. It’s the kind of change that requires people to shift their values, beliefs, and behaviors, not just learn a new skill. And that’s why it’s hard—because it’s not just about doing something different, it’s about becoming someone different. When you lead this kind of change, the danger isn’t just that people leave—it’s that they check out. So Brian focuses on the following things: keep the pace people can handle, invite them into shaping the vision, really listen to the voices of concern, and anchor the change in habits and identity. That way, people don’t just stick around—they stay engaged in the mission.