Christ Centered Organizational Leadership:

There are a number of works that offer great guidance in this regard.  My favorite texts are Steven Covey’s writings in this area - see www.stephencovey.com.  (I am in no way affiliated with the Covey Center and have no relationship with this organization).  I have worked in the private and non-profit human service field for more than twenty years and really my whole life.  I have also been in the restaurant business for much of my life.  In all of my experiences, I have had both successes and failures.  These experiences have brought me to boil these thoughts down to a number of organizational leadership principles that I adhere to and speak about. 

These are just some of my talking points in this regard.  They are fairly unorganized here but as time goes by I will expound on each of them and you are free to ask for an expanded discussion on any particular one:

Select, train, and sustain people to find meaning in their work and place them where this is most likely to occur. 

Leaders of systems need to have a proficient understanding of group dynamics

All roads – All programs – All activities BOTH lead to AND emanate from Values and Mission.

Leaders ensure effective planning and follow the process thru to implementation and accountability

Emotional attachment to an issue is a factor but is ultimately trumped by sound business principles when program planning.

Mission and Values are essential to agency practice.  Planning needs to emanate from the mission and values filtered through internal and external analysis

Leaders understand and orchestrate the energy in an organization in order to facilitate desired action and change. 

Leaders demand a well thought researched plan that includes all three goal/outcome levels before implementation is proposed. 

Organizations make service delivery and customer perception a key feature of program planning.

Leaders are effective conductors of mission and vision focused program planning efforts that motivate and inspire throughout the entire program development process.

Leaders ensure that the proverbial cart and horse are in the proper order when it comes to program development.

Leaders communicate destination and inspire action to get there. 

Leaders plan and strategize as a rule and then the organizational crisis becomes the exception.

Leaders take a long term outlook and steel themselves for long term efforts and challenges.

Leaders have vision and keep their eye on the mark.

Leaders utilize accountability mechanisms to ensure implementation.

Leaders train others to be leaders.