SEVEN UNCHANGEABLE RULES OF CHANGE

1. People do what they perceive is in their best interest, thinking as rationallya s circumstances allow them to think.

2. People are not inherently anti-change. Most will, in fact, embrace initiatives provided the change has positive meaning for them.

3. People thrive under creative challenge, but wilt under negativness.

4. People are different. No single “elegant solution” will address the entire breadth of these differences.

5. People believe what they see. Actions do speak louder than words, and a history of previous deception octuples present suspicion.

6. The way to make effective long-term change is to first visualize what you want to accomplish and then inhabit this vision until it comes true.

7. Change is an act of the imagination. Until the imagination is engaged, no important change can occur.

Appel & Nelson in How to Change Your Church…