As long as I have worked, I ahve seen plenty of people (bosses) who say that their goal for the organization is excellence. This sounds good until it is put into practice using the commonly available maps to excellence.
There is usually a great beginning push toward excellence, but soon the map calls for a shift in direction and the organization begins heading toward the goal of perfection. Like El Dorado, perfection never comes and most often a great team dissolves into a frustrated group of talented people. Frustration comes because, in most cases, the leader is in the sole position to steer the organization. Everyone, the staff, management team, etc. want to succeed with the plan and please the leader.
When headed to an imaginary place with real people, the leader has two choices. The first choice is to realize the delusion of perfection, correct the course and go on. The second is to get rid of the real people, hold firm to his/her delusion and fill the real people’s vacancies with others who like to play Imaginary Friends.
This seems like an easy call for a leader, but all too often Ego makes admission of flawed leadership something to be avoided at all costs. The result is a once great or forward moving company trying to survive and not go under. Reputation and real innovative drive are all but gone.
These are the companies that are either bought and leadership replaced or the company treads water until the inevitable closer occurs.
In the case of churches, these are places who, if the truly believe what most teach, should close and merge with another church who is focused on the real place of excellence.
Imagining or Real? I’m betting you would choose Reality.
