How We Can Help
Distinguishing between normal growing pains, and more serious/chronic issues
Are you on the path to healthy development, or premature decline? We will help identify the stage in your organization’s developmental lifecycle to determine which of your challenges are normal growing pains (but still difficult), and which are more chronic problems requiring immediate attention. It is critical to know the difference, since what is normal at one stage, could be detrimental at another stage. For example, flexibility is essential in early stages, while lack of certain controls will hinder later stages. Normal challenges still require attention, but when not addressed at the appropriate stage, they will likely become major obstacles to future development.
Understanding the Impact of Organizational Structure & Culture
Your structure is simply a “tool” that must also evolve to support the more demanding needs of your changing organization. Yet, the best management structure and plans are at the mercy of an established culture. We will assist your team in understanding how your structure and culture are either supporting or hindering the achievement of your goals. We may change the structure to better align with your goals or stage of development, and either seek to enforce your current culture, or plan to transition it over time.
Facilitating Leadership transformation to develop past organizational "adolescence."
The very skills and mindset required in earlier stages of an organization, can severely hinder future development. A major shift is required. Often the leadership practices and management model that got you to where you are, will not get you to where you now want to go. Skills in establishing systems and defining processes may have been unnecessary earlier, but become crucial as the organization becomes more complex. The role of the leader also transforms from a doer to an enabler. There is a rebirth away from a commitment to the Person, to a commitment to the organization’s Purpose. This stage of development is often the most difficult change an organization will face – when many begin to decline.
Moving “from A to B” and managing the GAP (Goal Achievement Process)
In a general sense, our ultimate goal is to help you get “from A to B”. Once you and your team can clearly articulate where you want to Be around some particular issue, goal or challenge, we then begin facing the honest facts as to where you Are. We have found that lack of clarity or divergence in these two areas are frequently an underlying cause of numerous issues. Once A and B are clearly committed to by the leadership team, we proceed to close the “GAP”, or what we call the Goal Achievement Process. It is simply the sequential action plan we will create together to move from A to B. But this plan will also address the cultural, organizational, and leadership dynamics mentioned above, to assure they support rather than detract from achieving your goals.
Policy Governance – We help determine When and How
Many growing churches and nonprofit organizations have considered moving to Policy Governance for their oversight board. This is a major transition for the overseers of your organization. Together, we will determine if it is the right governing model for your board and leadership team at this stage of your organization’s development. When it is, we will help facilitate this detailed, extremely effective, but often sensitive governance transition.
Leadership Coaching
It is true – leadership can be a lonely place. Many leaders seek to have candid conversation with someone who has “lived in their shoes”. Sometimes you want expert advice, and sometimes just a little help to “clear the fog” on a decision. Many times, leaders simply need a trusted confidante to just “be there”. Are you reaching your potential? Are you helping the organization reach its potential? Together, we describe the leader you aspire to be and discover any blind spots holding you back. Through candid conversations and honest feedback we seek to move you toward the leader you want and need to be.