The Goehner Group

MISREAD THE CULTURE

I am sending you out like sheep among wolves therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Matthew 10:16

In more than twenty years of executive search and forty plus years of ministry leadership this issue has come up over and over.

In The Goehner Group we have learned “fit” is almost more important than any other ingredient in choosing a new leader. Many times a leader comes to a new organization, does not fit but is unaware until the first difficulties arise and it is apparent that he or she has misread the organizational culture. Culture also includes geography and often people from one part of the country cannot really effectively serve in another geographical location because they simply don’t fit.

A second issue is unbridled change e.g. making change for change sake, rather than reading the culture and understanding the organizational heritage, history, landmines and barriers before initiating any type of change.

The two issues I’ve discussed: “lack of fit” and unbridled change, normally result in pain for the relationship and an ugly departure.

Jesus sent out his disciples to be servant leaders but also to be shrewd, strategic and to read the culture before proceeding.

Remember-it’s about fit and when things don’t fit, such as a bad pair of shoes, pain is the ultimate result.

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