It’s all about people
Recently I have read two books related to the culture and dynamics of life in business. But since a successful business relies heavily on the relationships between people much of what was written also applies to the church and to individual lives. So I commend both books to you, whether you have responsibility for others in a community environment, such as a business or church, or whether you want to handle change in your personal or work life more effectively.
Shaping your Workplace Culture – Vanessa O’Shea
I have known Vanessa for many years. We were in the same church. I was aware of her responsibilities working for the YMCA but, until I spotted this book, published only a few weeks ago, I was unaware of her insights into understanding a workplace culture and positively encouraging its improvement.
This book is both informative and challenging, ‘equipping’ and a manual. It combines insightful teaching with checklists and assessments to help you to apply the material to your own situation.
Written in short accessible chapters Shaping your Workplace Culture is relevant both for those who have a responsibility to shape culture in their workplace and, more widely, in giving understanding of how people respond and can be motivated to contribute to creating a positive culture.
Much of what Vanessa shares comes from decades of experience in the charitable sector, hence my suggestion that much is applicable to a church culture. Good leadership in either setting should seek to motivate and mobilise people to operate maximally in their skill set. This will bring greater fulfilment and also benefit the organisation/community in which they function to help it improve its effectiveness.
Her culture-shaping model answers four questions: What? Why? How? Who? At all times she stresses the importance of people buying in to the vision and embracing the values of an organisation, whether they are the senior leaders or the most junior members of staff. She presents the material in a way that makes an easy read but is far from superficial.
Do you want your thinking and pre-conceptions to be challenged? Read it and apply what you learn!
Who Moved My Cheese? – Dr Spencer Johnson
The second book has been around for 20 years and has sold in large numbers. But I have only just been introduced to it by a good friend. It is a gem! It is a short quick read that will make you think and reflect for days/weeks/months to come and is used in leadership training. It particularly addresses the management of change, seeking to help you see your attitude to change and how your responses might be challenged.
Written as a parable it has four figures: two mice, Sniff and Scurry, who are quick to recognise and embrace change, and take action, and two humanoids, Hem and Haw, who like to think things through before acting; even then they do so cautiously. As you get drawn into the story you begin to identify with one of the characters and start to compare their responses to certain situations with your own responses when you face change. These may be changes imposed from outside (eg in your workplace or church) or initiated by yourself (eg the desire to improve your marriage).
Do you resist or embrace change easily? Are you ‘head in the sand’ or ‘let’s get on with it’? Who Moved My Cheese? will make you reflect and help you to adjust your thinking. You will see how you can embrace the inevitable changes of life more positively.