Whatnot

I think the emerging challenge for me these days is how do I lead organizationally (that is in light of the great and extremely practical literature on organizational leadership that I’ve used to great affect – or is it effect?) while also leading and especially LIVING relationally.  I believe it’s not an either/or.  It’s a both/and.  

But how? 

Let me unpack this a bit – I have found what I would call enormous success in taking corporate organizational principles from the likes of Jim Collins (Good to Great, Built to Last) and applying them to work within the church.  Concepts such as “first who, then what” in terms of vision have really helped me to build a phenomenal and amazing team of people and together discern where we are headed in our responsibility to the children in our community.  I’ve found it to be not only effective, but life-giving to the people I am working with.  That is, team growth, getting the job done, etc, but team health.  People are closer to Jesus for being part of this.  And that’s the stuff.

But I’ve also felt the tension in my desire to lead and live in primarily RELATIONAL way.  There is a part of me that just wants to pack it all in and invest in my neighbors.  We’re getting close to some real relationship with them, and I think the kingdom is breaking in on 6^th street.  

Thoughts?