IDEAS: POSITIVE DEVIANT . . . LEADING CHANGE The December 2000 issue of Fast Company, featured an article called, "Positive Deviant." Driven by a need to effect change quickly in an effort to save starving children in Vietnam, Jerry Sternin came to realize that real change always begins from the inside. Driven by the reality that the TBU (true but useless) model of dealing with malnutrition would not work, Sternin turned to the theory of positive deviance: "In every community, organization or social group, there are individuals whose exceptional behaviors or practices enable them to get better results than their neighbors with the exact same resources. Without realizing it, these "positive deviants" have discovered the path to success for the entire group . . ." TRUE BUT USELESS . . . REPLACED We rarely talk with a church that is not dealing with change. Many are attempting to address the critical issues with outdated, "true but useless models." Have any of these hanging around your place? Listed below are principles for adopting positive deviance as a part of your leadership development and change model: Step 1: Don't Presume You Have the Answer: Approach the change issue with a beginner's mind, ready to listen. Step 2: Don't Think of It as a Dinner Party: Involve only those that are a part of effecting the change, instead of a broad, diverse audience. Step 3: Let Them Do It Themselves: Set up a situation in which people can discover, on their own, a better way to do things. Raise questions but the let the group come up with its own answers. Step 4: Identify Conventional Wisdom: Establish the norms and associated boundaries. Step 5: Identify and Analyze the Deviants: Allow the positive deviants to emerge as it becomes clear that they have found a better way. Step 6: Let the Deviants Adopt Deviations On Their Own: Don't teach new knowledge - encourage new behavior. Step 7: Track Results and Publicize Them: Post the results, show how they are achieved and let other groups develop their own curiosity about them. Step 8: Repeat Steps One Through Seven: Make the whole change process cyclical. To read the article for more in-depth insight go to: <http://www.fastcompany.com/online/41/sternin.html>