I recently re-read a booklet entitled Culture Shift by Dr. Price Pritchett. One chapter was right to the point, in my view, concerning a common cultural characteristic in many organizations. Still, it is especially prevalent in those where rapid change is the norm ... like a post-pandemic church. The chapter is entitled, Taking Personal Responsibility for Fixing Things. The local church is an environment that has … [Read more...]
A “Customer Service” Culture
Transforming Organizational Culture Is Absolutely Necessary But A Very Difficult Thing To Do
I read a book a very long time ago that I was looking through again the other day. The book's name is The Nordstrom Way - The Inside Story of America's #1 Customer Service Company, written by Robert Spector and Patrick D. McCarthy. A couple of paragraphs from the first chapter caught my eye and reminded me why I got so much from this book so long ago. Read on ... Donald E. Peterson, the retired chairman of the … [Read more...]
Having Vision Is Not The Key When It Comes To Great Leadership
Some Thoughts On What Successful Leaders Do Well
I've said it many times. "Good leaders are very hard to find." What do I mean? People in leadership roles who get and practice leadership fundamentals, enabling the organization to accomplish its mission and realize the vision, are few and far between. Why? I don't profess to know exactly, but I think it's mostly because it's hard. Good leadership usually requires "change." We all know how difficult it is to … [Read more...]
Developing A “Plan And Execute” Culture
One Of The Most Important Responsibilities Of The Senior Church Leader
A critical part of any organizational culture is instilling the norm that we "plan and execute." It's not "ready, fire, aim." It's "aim, ready, fire!" But why is planning so important to the success of the organization? I'll borrow a quote from a previous post I wrote on strategic planning to answer this question. Why plan? Why is planning or “choosing a direction” so important? Especially in the church, it’s … [Read more...]