The issue of organizational clarity: why we are here; what we hope
to accomplish; what spells success and what are our non-negotiables is more
important than we often understand. Here are some key things that we must
understand about ministry clarity.
One: Maximum Clarity is the single most powerful accelerator of
ministry results because in stripping away the ambiguities of what we are
about, all parts of the organization can line up their arrows in the same direction.
The corollary is that lack of clarity decelerates ministry effectiveness
because energies are expended in different directions.
Two: Without clarity one cannot have alignment in the organization
because there is nothing to align around other than general dreams or hopes.
Without alignment you will not attract the right people, or the best people who
want to know where the ministry is going and how it intends to get there.
Three: Without maximum clarity you cannot measure your progress.
Frankly I think that some leaders don’t want the accountability of clarity
because then progress can be measured. This is why so many reviews in ministry
settings lack objective measurements. Without clarity you simply don’t have
them.
Four: Getting to clarity among leaders, staff and boards raises to
the surface differing views as to what the ministry is really about. I have
seen this played out over and over. I will be told that there is significant
agreement about the ministry and its direction but when you start to clarify
those issues you realize that there are in fact competing ideas and visions.
The good news is that in the clarifying process you surface those differing
visions and settle on one compelling vision.
Five: Getting to clarity is some of the most difficult but
rewarding work leaders do. It forces them to think about the most important
issues of their work, identify direction, non-negotiables and what is central
to what God is calling them to do and to be. There is nothing more rewarding
when there is a general “Ah Ha” in the room that we got it right and that we
can give our energies to a common direction and mission.
Six: Clarity is the missional glue that gives the organization
meaning, definition, and purpose. It moves people from doing good things to
doing truly important things together.
