Trust for Change

The goal of this assignment is to understand how trust facilitates accepting change from real-life stories within your church community. Follow the instructions below to get started:

Instructions

1. Interview Selection: Choose two or three members of your church or community whom you believe would have valuable insights or experiences to share with you. These could be church leaders, elders, or any individuals who have experience on either end of leader-induced change.
   
   
2. Materials Needed:
   • A notebook or digital device for note-taking.
   • The material on the Four Keys for reference.
     
     
3. Duration:
   Each interview might last between 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the depth of the conversation.
   
   
4. Interview Introduction
   Begin by explaining the purpose of your interview. Ensure your interviewees that their responses will be kept anonymous and used for your learning and reflection. It is possible that someone will read the anonymous interview if you pursue a badge or credential of some sort.
   
   
5. Interview Questions
   • Can you share a story where you led, observed, or underwent some sort of leader-directed change? What was it?
   • Did trusting someone help you accept or adapt to a significant change? Or did trust in you as a leader make leading change happen more smoothly? How so?
   • On a slightly tangential note, do you find that a leader being 1) on time, 2) keeping their word, 3) and 4) helps in building trust? Why or why not?
     
     Keep the conversation relaxed and allow individuals to share their stories without interruption.
     
     
6. Document the Responses:
   After each interview, jot down key takeaways, stories, and insights shared by the interviewees. 
   
   
7. Reflect and Analyze:
   Once all interviews are conducted, set aside time to reflect on the common themes or divergences in the stories you've heard.
   
   Consider the following questions:
   • Were there common elements in the stories where trust played a crucial role in accepting change?
   • How did the stories differ?
   • What were the predominant views on the “four keys”? Was there a key that was particularly emphasized or disregarded by most?
     
     
8. Share Your Insights:
   Upload your notes and insights to the course using the option below.