Sometimes you just need to say thank you. Today is one of those days. Last week was launch week for my new book, Leading Change Without Losing It. A heartfelt thanks to every one of you who helped make the launch a success.

Thank you to everyone who

Tweeted about the book

Shared the news on Facebook

Blogged about the book

Bought a copy

Prayed for me and for those who will be reading the book

To say that the launch exceeded my expectations is quite an understatement. I never dreamed it would become a bestseller out of the gate. To see it be the #1 bestselling Kindle new release in ministry for a over a week now has been incredible. But then to see it in the top 5 bestselling ministry books, and even spend time at #1 – well, the thought didn’t actually cross my mind.

So thank you! While I’m excited that the book did well, I’m far more excited by what that means for you, the church and anyone trying to lead change effectively.

There’s a growing tribe of us now who are going to try to navigate change prayerfully, skillfully and strategically. We need each other. And I hope and pray this blog and the dialogue the book prompts will create a conversation among leaders that helps each of us navigate change more effectively. So thank you. Please know I’m cheering for you and I’m praying for you.

In the upcoming months, the dialogue will grow richer, fuller and I hope become very helpful to all of us trying to lead change.

On that note, I have a few announcements for all of us passionate about change:

1. I’ll be happy to answer questions about the book on twitter. Just use the hashtag #leadingchange on twitter. You can follow me on Twitter here.

2. In January, I’ll be launching a free monthly podcast all about change. Watch for details and how to subscribe to the podcast in the next few weeks.

3. This blog will continue to be my homebase on all things change. As I write the next two books in the change trilogy, a lot of the ideas will be beta tested here.

4. To make sure you don’t miss out on anything, subscribe to the blog using the fields to the right of this post.

And finally, thanks to everyone who used the #changebook hashtag during launch week. You got the word out, and here are the contest winners:

@GToddPounds and @jeremypauldavis won free signed copies of the book.

@danbrubacher won a free signed copy of the book and a free one hour change consultation I can’t wait to dig into with him.

Congrats!

A change is underway in how we lead change in the church and in other organizations. And for that, I’m incredible excited.

Thanks for being part of this tribe early on! Thanks for helping us get off to a great great start. I appreciate you so much, and I’m excited for what’s ahead! My goal is to help you become more effective than ever as you lead change.

So, how else can I serve you? I’d love to know.

This is Part 5 of a 5 part blog series designed to answer your questions on leading change. It’s part of Change Week – from December 10-17th.

We’re marking the release of my new book Leading Change Without Losing It with a special, limited time 50% discount for Kindle and iBooks (or here for iBooks Canada). Later today I’ll draw the winners of our launch week contest (see below). Today is the final day to get the Kindle and iBook versions of the book at 50% off.

Many leaders are great with the idea of change until it involves losing people. At that point, for many leaders, a paralysis sets in.

The #1 question I got asked about change when we were changing everything in my first season of ministry is this: ‘how many people did you lose?”  It’s like people desperately wanted to hear that we were able to change everything and lose no one.

The truth is, you can’t navigate real change and keep everybody you have. The people you have today are the people who like things the way they are. Change that and some will leave.

Chuck frames the tension well:

Some are set in their ways and refuse a new perspective, no matter how awesome it is. At what point, and how, should the proverbial bus leave the station? When do you and those with you press on with the change and leave the stubborn ones behind? This task requires compassion, but at some point, the bus has gotta depart.

What leaders forget is you’re always losing someone. You just need to decide who to lose.

Think about who you would rather lose.

You can lose a few opponents to change, or you can lose:

the people who dreamed of a better tomorrow

the progressive leaders in your church who are waiting for someone to lead. (Trust me, they will leave. They’ll find someone to lead them, and they’ll go quietly.)

the people you are trying to reach (who will never come as long as your organization is the way it is)

Which group would you rather lose?

Ask yourself, five years from now, who are the people I want around me –the opponents, or these groups: the people who dreamed of a better tomorrow, the progressive leaders and the people you’re trying to reach?

By the way, you can still love the opponents, you just don’t need to allow them to control the agenda of your organization.

Once you’ve decided who you are ready to lose, you can put the organization in gear and get moving.

If you want more detail on who to lose and who to keep, the first, second and third strategies in Leading Change Without Losing It offer specific strategies on who lose and who to keep (and how to do that) when navigating change.

What are you learning about who to lose and who to keep? What questions remain for you in this area?

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For your chance to win a free copy of the book during launch week, tweet about the book, this post or change using the hashtag #changebook. Tonight, I’ll select three winners who used the #changebook hashtag on twitter:

1. Two will win a free copy of the book.
2. One winner will win
   1. Copies of the book for their entire team (up to twelve copies);  and
   2. A one hour video consultation with me to work through your specific change scenario with you.

Thanks for helping us spread the word.

A few weeks ago, I sat down with a great friend who’s also one of my very favourite leaders, Reggie Joiner.  Reggie is a brilliant thinker and the CEO of Orange.

Reggie started North Point Community Church with Andy Stanley, and left a few years ago to devote all of his time to helping church leaders figure out how churches and parents can partner together for the sake of the next generation.

Listen in on our conversation about the challenges of navigating change in the church.

Leading Change Without Losing It is available now for Kindle on Amazon, on iBooks (for iPad and iPhone) and in paperback at the Orange Store.  The Kindle and iBooks version are on sale at 50% off for a limited time. Sale ends tomorrow.