Organizational Success

Love you all, praying for you.  

I just love God’s Word.  It is the playbook for life.  Do you lead a team, or an organization?  Do you have any responsibility that includes or involves other people?  What are the three keys, requirements for success? 
 
#1  The most important thing to the success of any organization or team - is having the Right People in the right place (or role). Without it, you cannot succeed.  Jesus carefully selected his disciples, Gideon let 20,000 employees go, and kept the 300 he needed. (Not all of them were happy).  The disciples sought the LORD to replace the one destined for destruction.  (Jesus didn’t make a hiring mistake, there was a bigger purpose in play).   Be careful who you hire, or who you add to your team.  Proverbs 26:10 – Like an archer who wounds at random is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.  Proverbs 10:26 – Like vinegar to the teeth, and smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him.   If God has called you to lead something, be sure you have the right people on your team.  Letting them go isn’t a bad thing, it could be the best thing for them, and absolutely needed for you.  Faithful leaders are not people pleasers, they please the one who sent them, and love people to excellence.  You won’t make everyone happy, but those you are called to, and are called to you will grow in grace, and fulfill the purpose to which you and they are called.   
 
#2 The second most important thing to the success of any organization or team is Vision.  Without vision, the people perish.  Without revelation the people cast off restraint.  To attract the right people, and retain them, your vision must be clear.  The desired end-state.  State it specifically, communicate it regularly.  Be careful to guard against vision creep, and vision leak.  Don’t get distracted and add things.  Do what you do best.  And don’t let vision wane, by lack of communication, or enthusiasm.  Celebrate the successes, and keep the vision in plain sight. 
 
#3 The third most important thing is Communication. It must clear and it must be regular, scheduled.  You need weekly, even a brief daily meeting to instill accountability, celebrate successes which accomplish the vision, to anticipate challenges and remove roadblocks, and to reinforce the vision.  When Jesus sent the disciples out two by two, he was sure to gather them together at the end.  Communication for the greatest leader of all time, was 1) Daily relationship, 2) Humble service (he washed their feet), 3) He always set the example himself, he didn’t require anything of them that he wasn’t willing to do, or hadn’t already demonstrated.  4) He gave clear assignments, and told them what to expect – what they would face while doing it.  5) He sent them out two by two, so they would succeed.  And 6) He followed up assignments with team conversations.  So they could overcome with their testimony and everyone could be encouraged.  And 7) He also cooked them breakfast.  They shared meals together.   They became like family.  Jesus was the greatest leader of all time.  Millions still follow him today. 
 
If you lead a team or an organization, you need people who share your values, vision, and strategy.  So be selective when you hire.  Ask God to help you, He will.  And if you already have a team… Is everyone on your team on board with you, or are some working against you?  To get everyone on the same page… Organizational Unity – requires these things:    
 
#1  Is the Goal, Expectation or Requirement specifically defined?  (Make it plain on tablets so whoever reads it can run with it).  If it’s unclear, people will define it for themselves, and they’ll be pulling in different directions, rather than moving together toward the goal.
 
#2 Have you clearly communicated it?  Do they understand the expectation and reason behind it?  Regular Communication is required – one time only will not suffice.
 
#3 Do they have the capacity to do it?  Physically or Intellectually?  Can they do it?  They might be in the wrong position or role. 
 
#4 Do they want to?  Are they committed to it? 
 
If it’s not specifically defined, or you haven’t communicated clearly, that’s on you. But if they are incapable, or unwilling – you’ve got the wrong person on your team.  You need to free them up to do something they want to do and are capable of.  It will benefit them, and you. 
 
Praying that you will know what God is calling you to do, select your team members wisely, and love them to excellence.  And if you belong to a team, and are not the leader.  You need to be a great team member.  Remember the law of sowing and reaping.  The team member you are for others, will be the team members you receive when you’re in a position of responsibility.  When you’re not the leader, are you humbly serving them and others, to accomplish the vision God has given them?  If you’re on the wrong team, don’t be a distraction, be a blessing.  You might need to get to the place God has for you.  It’s not quitting, it’s repositioning for your success, and theirs.   
 
Praying you will always be a good teammate, and a faithful leader of great teams. So everything God has called you to do, you do fully and joyfully with excellence.  That is your reasonable act of worship!
 
Love you all,
dad