Dealing With the Squiggly Things |
Aug 18, 2009 |
One of the most important questions your ministry can ask is [go ahead, make drum role noises here]…
“Where is our ministry right now?” Bata-bing!!
That’s it.
A tiny question that when processed correctly has huge implications. And answering this question definitely means examining the “brutal facts” of reality and dealing with the “squiggly things." (The terms "brutal facts" and "squiggly things" come from Jim Collins' book, Good to Great.)
In order to stay relevant and focused, an organization must establish points of reference for change. Jim Collins, in Good to Great, states:
“One of the dominant themes of our research is that breakthrough results come about by a series of good decisions, diligently executed and accumulated one on top of another. . . . You absolutely cannot make a series of good decisions without first confronting the brutal facts.” (pgs. 69-70)
Good decisions cannot be made by organizations that refuse to look at and accept their down and dirty, and sometimes extremely unpleasant, current conditions.
Pitney Bowes executive Fred Purdue explains even further:
“When you turn over rocks and look at all the squiggly things underneath, you can either put the rock down, or you can say, ‘My job is to turn over rocks and look at the squiggly things,’ even if what you see can scare the hell out of you.” (72)
Organizations must begin with the brutal facts, and be willing to look at and deal with the squiggly things that are currently holding them back, and are a definite threat to their future.
Sadly, many organizations struggle with this concept and instead of using their current condition as an opportunity to cast vision and launch a more effective future, the hard truths of ineffectiveness are ignored or justified. Eventually, this mindset leads to either completely refusing to “turn over rocks,” or, when leaders do, the squiggly things are too scary to confront and the rocks are put back in place. These practices create an environment of denial, complacency, and overall irrelevancy.
Jesus was a master at turning over rocks and identifying and dealing with the squiggly things. He did it in the temple. He did it with the woman at the well. He did it with the Pharisees. He did it with the woman caught in adultery. He did it with the disciples when they were missing the message. Jesus turned over rocks, uncovered the ugly stuff, dealt with it, and helped people move on to a greater future.
We, as leaders, need to do the same.
“Where is our ministry right now?” A simple question that marks the beginning of great change.
Next Tuesday I’ll share a real life example of two organizations (that you may know well). One dealt with the squiggly things and moved onto greatness; the other set the rock back down and died a slow, painful death.
John 2:14-16
In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of chords, and drove all from the temple area… “How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!”
