Many of
us have heard this question this summer as we have traveled with young (and
sometime not so young) passengers. Of
course, this presupposes that we know where we are going! We will only know if we are there if we have
a clear idea of our destination. Often,
some have one idea while others have another.
In a recent blog, Mark Miller wrote, “Have you ever been confused by a
message you received from a leader? Have you ever received mixed messages from
leaders in your organization? If your organization has at least two leaders,
I’m confident the answer is ‘yes!’” So
how do you avoid sending mixed messages throughout your organization? Who defines the destination so that we all get
to the same place at the right time?
Most organizations—secular or faith-based—tend to attract
driven, creative people who are seeking ways to advance the mission of the
organization (and perhaps their own agendas as well). The greatest challenge is to find ways to
bring all of these varied ideas, motivations, and abilities together around a common
cause so that everyone arrives at the same destination.
Miller suggests that the way to do this is to increase
alignment, clarity and unity. Here are
some suggestions about how to do this.
First, we must have alignment or get everyone pointed in the
same direction. We do this by asking the
question, “What do we value?” Our values
guide us to our destination. They determine
not only where we will go but what methods we will use to get there. Failure to embrace our values will lead not
only to confusion but loss of people along the way.
Second, clarity gives us the ability to talk with precision about
what we are doing so that we can understand each other. Do we speak a common language and have a
common vocabulary? Do we use the same
terms but mean different things? We must
have the ability to embrace terminology that clearly communicates what we are
about in order to avoid alienation.
Third, we must seek unity with our traveling
companions. This does not mean that we will
all think alike, but it does make us ask, “Are we willing to give up on
non-essentials for the greater good?” Real
unity is based on integrity—making agreements and then following through on
them. We may not get what we want as
individuals but as a group we will all be better off.
Many organizations are fully of talented, well-meaning
people, but they have no idea where they are going. It doesn’t have to be that way.
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