GrowthStarts

Organized religion's management problem

Gary Hamel writes with insight on organized religion's management problem and their need to reinvent church. An excerpt:

Over the centuries, religion has become institutionalized, and in the process encrusted with elaborate hierarchies, top-heavy bureaucracies, highly specialized roles and reflexive routines. (Kinda like your company, but only more so). Religion won’t regain its relevance until church leaders chip off these calcified layers, rediscover their sense of mission, and set themselves free to reinvent “church” for a new age.

Doing this is going to take a management revolution. Back in the first century, the Christian church was organic, communal and mostly free of ritual—and it needs to become so again—as does every organization, public or private, large or small.

More here.

HT: Tony Morgan

Quotable Quote: Lee Cockerell

As you can see, management and leadership are closely connected. Managerial skills give you credibility; unless you are organized, do what you say you are going to do, and keep your promises, you will not be considered a great leader.

HT: Creating Magic: 10 Common Sense Leadership Strategies from a Life at Disney by Lee Cockerell (New York: Doubleday, 2008)

Quotable Quote: Lee Cockerell

Some resist having anything resembling a routine; they think it’s boring, and they want to remain fluid and flexible to respond to changing circumstances. But good routines actually give you the stability you need in order to adapt when challenges arise. I once heard someone say, “Management is boring. If you want excitement become a race car driver.” His point was that good managers aren’t there to seek thrills; they are there to keep things under control, minimize the unexpected disruptions, and give their employees the consistency they need to do their best work. Good processes ensure that you attend to the routine, necessary, and predictable tasks, freeing your mind to respond creatively to unexpected events.

HT: Creating Magic: 10 Common Sense Leadership Strategies from a Life at Disney by Lee Cockerell (New York: Doubleday, 2008)