Manage Differently

Last Thursday's Leadership Summit started off quickly. Bill Hybels set the stage for the Summit and some of the conversations by talking about the new reality of leadership and the world. All of us are leading in a new reality, and one that may be with us for a very long time. Our old reality may be just that, an old reality, and one to which we may never return.

Economies, thoughts, spending, societal expectations, and church are all changing. In spite of that new reality, we must lead.

That morning didn't slow down. Gary Hamel shared a dynamic dialogue on managing in this new reality, and offered encouragement for leaders and churches to adapt.

To say that the morning didn't slow could be an understatement. Hamel's delivery was quick, yet direct. Try as I might, I couldn't get every word down, although I felt as if everything that was said was targeted and thought provoking.

Maybe that's what made the point - our world is changing, and much quicker than institutions are adapting. His opening question was simple, "are you changing as fast as the culture around you?"

While his message centered on the fact that our world is becoming more turbulent faster than our organizations are becoming resilient, he offered us some thoughts on how businesses as well as churches can think about leading from the edge of those changes.

• Outrun Change. Don't take refuge in denial that change is happening. Confront the realities of the world around us and the churches we serve. Face the facts head on and question your practices. He was clear that we should not question our core beliefs and creedal systems, but that how we live out of them must continue to be questioned. Hamel encouraged us to listen to the renegades.
• Generate strategic options. Make change look cooler than standing still.
• Deconstruct what we believe, ask questions and compare yourself with others. Don't be in the business of replicating what is happening down the street, but attempt to brand yourself. If there is a program that doesn't work or hasn't changed, ask why.

Hamel pointed out several businesses and organizations that have done exactly what he was advocating, noting that without change and adaptation, these companies would have been gone decades ago. For me, it was a nice connection to Jim Collins book, How the Mighty Fall.

One of the most powerful statements for me reminded me of how easy it is to be comfortable. I continue to think about it and wonder if I'm not living in this situation. Hamel said, "The longer you are in a trench, the easier it is to mistake the edge of your rut as the horizon." He likened the places that we reside as quite often ruts that are hard to get out of. We need to focus on getting out of those ruts so that we can be on a smoother path to meet the needs of those around us.

Maybe what we need, Hamel suggested, was a good healthy dose of "unorganized religion." We need to deconstruct the patterns and behaviors that are continuing to set us behind the curve of society and commit ourselves to mobilize, connect, and support one another.

Sometimes there is a disconnect between business and leadership models, and the church. In the past, I've sometimes felt as if "faculty" at the Summit would burden themselves to make the leap and try to connect the two. It feels awkward and forced. I didn't feel that way with Hamel who was able to use his business experinece as a way of thinking about leadership in the church.

I am looking forward to diving into Hamel's book, The Future of Management. Hopefully, I will be able to pick up some of the details that were missed by this fast paced and dynamic look at the future of leadership in a changing society.