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Like many of you, I have come to appreciate Jim Collins’ work. His book, Good to Great, helped me articulate some of my hunches about leadership (can anyone say hedgehog?).
Yesterday, Mark Maines, one of the members of our FYI Advisory Council, sent me an article by Jim Collins entitled “How Great Companies Turn Crisis Into Opportunity”. Mark’s both wise and thoughtful so I dove into Collins’ article. It’s a great read.
I struggle, though, with one of Collins’ claims regarding the core values of companies: “What we have found is that what really matters is that you actually have core values – not what they are”.
Really?
Sure, having any sort of core values are important, but the theologian in me believes that the nature of our values make a real difference. In the midst of these challenging times, I do appreciate Collins’ admonition to focus on values and people. I just want to make sure our ministries focus not just on any old values, but on KINGDOM values.
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March 31st, 2009 at 10:04 am
Dear Dr. Powell,
I read your blog frequently. I am a rookie youth pastor, and I consider this website an invaluable resource. Thank you. I recently purchased and devoured “The Five Temptations of a CEO,” based on your recommendation. Temptation 3, the need for ‘correct’ decisions, is my Achilles heel. I read this article by Collins. I think Lencioni and Collins are in agreement. Both agree that having core values “put on paper, announced to the company and used to guide the decisions” (Lencioni, p. 54), is more important than having the right core values. In other words, a company that can hold its people accountable to inferior values will do better than a company that doesn’t hold its people accountable to superior values (perhaps because the values are not clearly articulated). I think Collins is alluding to accountability depending on clarity.
I don’t think I have proposed anything with which you would disagree. I also know your main point is about KINGDOM values. But I felt compelled to write because your posts have been helping me move out of my “analysis ’til paralysis” phase. If you’ll excuse me, I need to go work on my hedgehog.
Thanks,
Craig
March 31st, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Craig, thanks for such a thorough and thoughtful reply. I suppose the IDEAL is to have strong (aka Kingdom) values that ARE clearly articulated. I’m guessing that’s what we would both want, as would many other readers.
Excuse the gun analogy, but I see some leaders who are “Ready…fire” people, and others are “Ready..aim…aim…aim…aim…fire”. May God show us how to be leaders who follow God’s timing with the right amount of analysis.