Most Disruptions Don’t Ask Permission

In most cases, disruption finds us.

You’re leading your team, your church, your business, and out of nowhere, something happens that changes everything.

The easy example? 2020.

We launched our “2020 Vision” in January with all the excitement and optimism you’d expect. Big dreams. Bold goals. Fresh energy. And then March hit without warning. The pandemic was a disruption that chose us.

It wasn’t scheduled. It wasn’t strategic. But it changed everything.

In those moments, every leader has to pivot.

Pivot: Our New Leadership Buzz Word

The 2020 disruption made “pivot” a leadership buzzword. We’d pivoted before, but now “pivoting” was something every leader understood. Of course, a forced pivot is not the same as a selected pivot. The difference between changing because you have to versus changing before you have to is akin to a leadership litmus test.

• Good leaders respond.

• Better leaders adjust.

• But the best leaders? They do something entirely different: They don’t wait for disruptions to find them.

Great leaders induce disruption—on purpose.

Not recklessly. Not randomly. But intentionally.

Great leaders know you don’t need a crisis to realize something needs to change.

The 3 Types of Leaders When It Comes to Disruption

1. The Responder

This leader waits for a crisis, then reacts. Usually with urgency—but often too late. They didn’t see it coming, and now they’re trying to play catch-up.

2. The Adapter

This leader is a step ahead. When they sense something shifting, they make small changes. They tweak. They improve. They survive.

3. The Disruptor

This leader leads change before change is required. They initiate. They challenge the norm while things are still “working.” They’re not content with maintenance. They’re driven by mission, not comfort.

Why the Status Quo Is More Dangerous Than You Think

The status quo is rarely neutral. It’s either moving you forward or slowly eroding your effectiveness.

But because it doesn’t scream, it doesn’t get your attention. There’s no flashing red light that says:

“Your current strategy is quietly becoming irrelevant.”

Instead, the status quo usually sounds like:

• “This is how we’ve always done it.”
• “Things are going fine right now.”
• “It’s always worked in the end.”
• “Let’s not rock the boat.”

Sound familiar?

It’s subtle. It’s sneaky. And it’s usually the first step toward decline.

Not because people are lazy but because people are comfortable.

So When Should You Disrupt the Status Quo?

If you’re not facing a crisis, how do you know it’s time to lead disruption?

Here are five signs it might be time to shake things up:

1. Engagement Is Declining

People may still be present, but they’re not energized. They’re going through the motions. It’s not always visible, but you feel it in the room, the hallway, the meeting.

The pulse is fading it’s time to shock it back to a better pace.

2. Your Team Is Maintaining More Than Innovating

When conversations shift from “What’s next?” to “How do we keep this running?”—you’re maintaining. And maintenance is the first sign you’ve stopped moving forward.

3. What Used to Work Isn’t Working Anymore

You’re doing the same things, but the results are shrinking. Culture shifted. The audience evolved. And your old playbook? It’s out of date.

4. You’re Behind and Playing Catch-Up

You look around and realize others are addressing what you’ve been avoiding. You’re not failing—but you’re no longer leading.

5. You’re Winning—But You Know It Won’t Last

Ironically, the clearest moments for disruption often come during times of success. Why? Because what got you here won’t get you there.

If you don’t disrupt what’s working now, it may hold you back later.

How to Disrupt Wisely (Not Recklessly)

Disruption doesn’t mean chaos. It doesn’t mean burning everything down just to prove you’re bold.

It means leading with vision and courage—before you’re forced to.

Here’s how to start:

✅ Start with questions. Ask: “If we were starting over, would we do it this way?”
✅ Invite outside perspective. You can’t disrupt what you can’t see clearly. Bring in trusted voices with fresh eyes.
✅ Pilot a small experiment. Don’t overhaul everything at once. Test one area, measure results, and learn.
✅ Create urgency without a crisis. Help your team see the gap between where you are and where you could be.

Final Thought

You don’t have to wait for disruption to knock on your door. You can choose to lead it.

It takes courage. It takes clarity. But it also creates momentum.

• Don’t just react.
• Don’t just adjust.
• Disrupt—on purpose, with purpose.

Call to Action:

What area of your church or organization is coasting on past success? Don’t wait for decline—start asking better questions today.

Quotes for Inspiration:

• “If we were starting over, would we do it this way?”
• “The status quo is rarely neutral—it’s either moving you forward or slowly eroding your effectiveness.”
• “Disruption doesn’t require a crisis. It requires courage.”

Resources for Further Learning:

• The Ministry MBA: 10 Practical Courses to Lead a Thriving Church
• Article: 10 Essential Pivots for Thriving Churches in a Post-Pandemic World
• Workshop: Church Accelerator 2-Day Strategic Planning Intensive
• Coaching: Partner with Gavin Adams

One More Thing…

At Church Accelerator, we offer consulting, workshops, content, and community to help churches break through barriers and grow their church.

Work with us in the way that best works for you:

✅ RESOURCES: Save 49 hours every month for only $49.

✅ WORKSHOPS & WORKING SESSIONS: Experience our Church Accelerator Workshop, a 2-day process with your core team where we clarify your vision, dream about your future, discover your current reality, and design an actionable plan.

✅ CONSULTING ENGAGEMENTS: Great churches don’t happen by accident. We coach and consult with churches with fewer than 100 attendees to churches with over 10,000 to improve discipleship pathways, communication and preaching, church engagement, and church leadership.

✅ ON-DEMAND EXECUTIVE: Add me to your executive team conversations and get a fresh perspective through a personal partnership.

Starting at just $49 – 🚀 Don’t wait—become a partner today.

Leading WITH You,
Dr. Gavin Adams