FUNDAMENTALS OF TRANSITIONAL LEADERSHIP (FTL) TRAINING
Timely, Relevant Training for Faith Communities in Transition
ESSENTIALS REGISTRATION
This Essentials 1-3 series of trainings (12 hours each) provides a good foundation for transitional leadership. It is recommended for anyone who hasn’t taken transitional leadership training previously or if it’s been more than 5 years since you had training. The Essentials 1-3 must be taken in sequence to complete the Essentials training. Note: To give you a brief introduction, we have created four videos that cover the Fundamentals of Transitional Leadership training concepts. Before signing up for Essentials 1 course, please take a moment to watch these videos.
See below the upcoming dates for the Essentials.
Essential 1 – Thresholds – An Invitation to Transitional Leadership
An introduction to transitional leadership, including key principles, theories, posture, and professional standards. Participants will learn about the Focus Points and Process Tasks that, together, form a framework for change management process. General Systems, Family Systems, and change theories, along with adaptive leadership principles and an awareness of neuroscience, will provide lenses for making sense of the organization in the midst of change. Participants will be introduced to transitional leader best practices, skills, qualities, and styles, while drawing on their lived experience to inform their development in practice and posture.
Required Reading for Essential 1
- Managing Transitions: Making the Most of Change (4th ed.) by William and Susan Bridges;
- If You Met My Family, You’d Understand (2020) by Jack Shitama;
- Seven and a Half Lessons by Lisa Feldman Barrett.
Essential 2 – The Art & Science of Transitional Leadership
A follow-up to Essential 1, focusing on the use of analytical tools and techniques that explore power dynamics, organizational identity and culture, the community context, as well as the broader work of setting the stage for leading change such as cultivating a climate of change and identifying adaptive work.
Required Reading for Essential 2
- Ethnography As A Pastoral Practice: An Introduction Paperback UPDATED (2023) – Mary Clark Moschella
- Humble Inquiry, Second Edition: The Gentle Art of Asking Instead of Telling (The Humble Leadership Series) Paperback (2021) Edgar H. Schein & Peter A. Schein
Essential 3 – Leading the Organization During Transitions
Building on Essentials 1 & 2, the 3rd Essential highlights how we work with others in the management of transitions, including organizational discernment, organizing and mobilizing for managing change, as well as deeper exploration of how factors such as norms, lifeways, contextual shifts, and trauma impact transitions.
Required Reading for Essential 3
Why Take the FTL?
“We’re all in transition.” ~ United Church of Canada Orientation Attendee
During our weekly FTL Orientation Sessions and – especially – what attendees say about why the new modular training is appealing.
Many of them mention vocational discernment and broadening career trajectories:
- “I’m mid-career, wondering what might be next for me.” (Presbyterian Church USA)
- “I’m headed for retirement and figuring out what’s next.” (Episcopal)
- “I’ve got non-profit management experience and I want to discover if transitional leadership might be a good fit.”’ (Reformed Jewish)
- “I’ve been told I have the skills to do interim ministry and should take the training.” (Anglican)
- “I’m widening the scope of possibilities.” (United Church of Christ)
Currently practicing transitional leaders talk about their desire to hone or deepen their skills:
- “I took the IMN training a while ago and want a refresher.” (Episcopal)
- “Things are changing, and I need to sharpen my skills.” (United Church of Christ)
- “It’s time to refresh the brain cells.” (Uniting Church in Australia)
- “I did an interim and loved it. To do more I know I need the additional training.” (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America)
- “I’m newly out of seminary but know I need to broaden my ministry skills.” (Episcopal)
Those in settled ministry are also affirming a core principle of IMN’s new FTL training – all leadership is transitional – and they want to be better prepared to do that work well:
- “Settled calls don’t mean what they once did. All ministry is transitional.” (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America)
- “I want to continue in parish ministry, and I know the Church is always in transition.” (Episcopalian)
- “Congregations need help with transitions generally, and with specific things such as recovery, hospice, and breach of trust situations.” (American Baptist)
- “Serving the Church in changing times means I need to work on my capacity to manage transitions.” (United Church of Christ)
Fundamentals of Transitional Leadership
ESSENTIALS
REGISTRATION
Quick Overview of Transitional Leadership Training
To give you a brief introduction, we have created four videos that cover the Fundamentals of Transitional Leadership training concepts. Before signing up for the Module One course, please take a moment to watch these videos.
MEMBERSHIP
Join or Renew Your Membership
Click here to explore the benefits of becoming part of this exceptional association. Select your preferred membership type and add it to your cart. Then, simply follow the prompts provided in the shopping cart to complete your transaction.
FTL ESSENTIAL 1
REGISTRATION
Thresholds – An Invitation to Transitional Leadership
Steps to register and prepare for a Essential 1 class:
- Verify you have viewed the four Introduction Video Questions.
- Select below the Essential 1 session you would like to attend.
- Add to cart then follow shopping cart prompts to complete registration and print receipt.
- IMN staff will contact you with further steps to begin your class.
- Review the required reading list below.
Required Reading for Essential 1
Purchase the following books from the seller of your choice. We know that these titles are available in paperback and digital, with the following sellers: Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Good Reads and more.
 William & Susan Bridges, Managing Transitions , 4th edition |
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Lisa Feldman Barrett, Seven and a Half Lessons About the Brain (2021) |
 Jack Shitama, If You Met My Family, You’d Understand (2020) |
FTL ESSENTIAL 2
REGISTRATION
The Art & Science of Transitional Leadership
Steps to register and prepare for a Essential 2 class:
- Essential 1 must be completed before you begin Essential 2.
- You may register now for a Essential 2 training as long as it begins after the completion of your Module 1 training.
- Select below the Essential 2 session you would like to attend.
- Add to cart then follow shopping cart prompts to complete registration and print receipt.
- IMN staff will contact you with further steps to begin your class.
- Review the required reading list below.
Required Reading for Essential 2
Purchase the following books from the seller of your choice. We know that these titles are available in paperback and digital, with the following sellers: Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Good Reads and more.
FTL ESSENTIAL 3
REGISTRATION
Leading the Organization During Transitions
Steps to register and prepare for a Essential 3 class:
- Module 1 & 2 must be completed before you begin Module 3.
- You may register now for a Module 3 training as long as it begins after the completion of your Module 1 & 2 trainings.
- Select below the Module 3 session you would like to attend.
- Add to cart then follow shopping cart prompts to complete registration and print receipt.
- IMN staff will contact you with further steps to begin your class.
Refund policy: Refunds are considered on a case to case basis. Once class materials have been access no refund will be issued. Rescheduling the class is an option.
Payments: Credit cards payments are manually processed and could take up to 5 days of the order date by the IMN office. Return Checks will be subject to a $25 service fee. ACH or Wire Transfer will be subject to a $20 to $60. service fee.