To give the book away a little, what do you do when you pack for a river trip and suddenly find yourself facing the Colorado Rockies? What happens when the terrain in front of you looks nothing like the map you prepared to follow?
Using the Lewis and Clark expedition as its governing metaphor, Canoeing the Mountains argues that leaders must learn to adapt when familiar maps no longer match the terrain. Bolsinger connects adaptive leadership theory with ministry practice, emphasizing mission, experimentation, resilience, and the challenge of leading through institutional change.
Some leadership situations can be anticipated; others surprise us and force us to adapt in real time. Although Bolsinger writes primarily for ministry leaders, the principles apply well beyond the church. I appreciate the way this book pushes leaders to think about what faithful leadership looks like when the old playbook no longer fits the situation.