Alexi E. George's Blog, page 5
July 5, 2019
Mission, Vision, and Goals
The existence of the organization is based on its mission, which rarely changes. This is one of the few things that are constant in every organization.
Change
If the mission changes, then the entire purpose changes, and the organization will be headed in a direction different from how it began. This is fine as long as the leaders and stakeholders are convinced of the new direction.
Focus
It is imperative that the organization engages in nothing that will not work to fulfill its mission. Such a request or opportunity is to be rejected as soon as you determine that it does not help to achieve your mission.
Vision: A measurable destination in the near future
Where mission is broad and constant for the life of the organization, the vision is specific and will change periodically. Since the mission of the organization is broad in nature, it is important to have a more narrow focus for effectiveness.
Make it a picture
The vision of any organization is a clear picture of a foreseeable future. Such a picture will help to position the people and practices of the organization towards reaching the vision.
Make it narrow
Vision is narrow. The narrower a vision is, the more effective it will be. If the vision is too broad, it will be impossible to gain focus. Thus nothing significant will be accomplished.
Make it clear
Vision is clear. All the members of a given organization should be able to articulate the vision. The vision should be clear and understandable enough for anyone in the organization to state it.
Make it measurable
Vision is measurable. If your vision is measurable, you will know when you have attained it. Then you can recast a new vision based on the same mission of the organization.
You can make the vision measurable by quantity, quality, and time. If your vision is based on quantity, you are aiming for a specific number of people, products, sales figures, or any other item that can be numbered. Quality will focus on a desired property, behavior, or attitude. Time will be simply a specific time in the future.
Goals: Specific steps that lead to accomplishing the vision
Goals are tasks that are done on a daily or weekly basis to accomplish the vision, as the vision helps to accomplish the mission.
Make it specific
These goals are specific tasks that can be part of the regular activities of various employees. As various people engage in these activities, they are directly contributing to the vision.
Make it regular
Let your goals be part of your regular, everyday processes. Work it into the routine so people don’t need to consciously shift their focus to accomplish the goals.
Create systems
Work out a system for accomplishing your goals. Create patterns and processes that people can be involved in. Make sure they take ownership of it. Let them lead it.
Variations
Some organizations use the terminology of Mission and Vision in a different manner than we have used here. The most common usage is what we have been using for our purpose, where Mission defines the purpose of the existence of the organization. But some use the term Vision to describe that purpose. Both are equally valid as long as you are consistent with your usage. For our purpose, we use the pattern: Mission > Vision > Goals.
An example: The bus
The mission of a bus is to provide transportation to people. The bus exists for this purpose. The organization also exists for the purpose of accomplishing its mission.
The vision is like the board on the bus that shows the destination. Once the destination is reached, a new destination will be assigned. In the same way, when the organization accomplishes its vision, a new vision is cast.
The goal is similar to the various stops made by the bus. Each stop is a step in moving towards its final destination. In a similar way, the goals of an organization are detailed tasks that help reach its vision.
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July 3, 2019
Too fierce to be controlled
The fiercest of animals reveal something unique about God. Of all the animals, and birds, and reptiles, there are a few that can’t be tamed, harpooned, or caught. These animals are truly powerful and stand out above all others.
God speaks to Job about one such animal. “Lay your hands on him; remember the battle – you will not do it again!” (Job 41:8) That’s power and fierceness unlimited.
God is all that and more. There is no sense trying to control him to get your way. He does everything his way. Even for you, he has determined some blessings that are beyond your understanding. But to get there, he has designed a unique path.
You may not like that path, and you may try to resist. But no chance. His way is the only way to get to the blessings he has designed for you. Don’t resist and don’t doubt.
If you choose your own path, you’ll end up in a different destination. Submit, obey, and stick to God’s plan for you.
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July 1, 2019
Anything’s game
Almost. You’ve got to stay within the limits of the law and reason. Although it’s not a completely open, blanket statement, it brings up a reality.
To accomplish our mission, anything’s game. There are two vital factors within this statement. First, the mission is so important that you’re willing to be flexible enough to be uncomfortable.
Second, the mission is so important that you minimize all other concerns in favor of accomplishing the mission.
So, what’s holding you back? Let’s work the mission with fierceness and determination. Nothing else will do.
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June 29, 2019
Pull that “cap” off
You’d never think of going on a vegetarian diet to build muscle. It just doesn’t work that way, especially if you want the size and strength.
But with God, he sets the standards in his own way. He sets the pattern for nature. Here is what he did with grass eaters:
“Behold, Behemoth, which I made as I made you; he eats grass like an ox. Behold, his strength is in his loins, and his power in the muscle of his belly” (Job 40:15-16).
Such animals have amazing strength in their bodies. All from eating grass. Yes, there are biological explanations for this, but we recognize that God was the one who set all this up.
What we know as limitations are not so for God. What are the limitations in your life? You have set a “cap” on your future because of your personal limitations and weakness. It’s time to pull it off and let God take you to greater effectiveness in the area of your limitations.
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June 27, 2019
Structure for accountability
Team leadership is an awesome model. The best qualities of each person can be maximized for the benefit of the team and the organization. There are many other benefits of team leadership as well.
But within such a team, some find it easy to hide behind those who are “more capable.” They let go of their responsibilities in hopes that someone else will pick up the slack – and someone usually does. Numerous pitfalls can occur in such a team. So we’ve got to create a structure for accountability.
Here are some ideas:
+ Conduct a brief, focused, weekly meeting where tasks, future projects, and responsibilities are reviewed and values are shared.
+ Keep Notes/Minutes for such a meeting on a cloud platform (Like Google Drive, Dropbox, or others) for all team members.
+ Maintain a group on WhatsApp, Messenger, or email where messages are shared only with this group.
+ Hold Annual/Bi-annual off sites for review, planning, and casting vision
+ Finally, by all means, follow up!
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June 25, 2019
Your success and the animal kingdom
Although it’s not much of a kingdom, they’ve got an amazing perspective. They can stand on their own and they do well as a group. In the wild, they excel. In captivity they’re fierce.
Here’s what the book of Job says about the wild donkey:
“He scorns the tumult of the city;
He hears not the shouts of the driver” (Job 39:7).
And about the horse in captivity going to war:
“He laughs at fear and is not dismayed; He does not turn back from the sword.”
“With fierceness and rage he swallows the ground; He cannot stand still at the sound of the trumpet. When the trumpet sounds, he says ‘Aha!’ – he smells the battle from afar, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting” (Job 39:22,24,25).
God has set the animals to succeed wherever they are placed.
How much more will you succeed!
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June 23, 2019
The Holy Spirit is a great teacher, but false teachings come from people
I’ve been a teacher for a long time now. But I’m realizing the Holy Spirit is the best teacher.
My teaching provides training to make appropriate decisions in life. But the Holy Spirit transforms the individual from within. Both are important, but the Spirit knows what’s within the heart of each person. Thus his work begins from the heart of the individual.
So we can trust the Holy Spirit as a great teacher like no other. He will lead people into the truth, and he’ll do that according to the needs of each person. I could never reach such depths with my teaching.
But is it enough to leave the people with the Holy Spirit and the Word? Won’t they go off on tangents and false teachings? Do we need to give more directions for their study of the word? If so, am I not doubting the Holy Spirit?
Although we trust the Holy Spirit, we don’t always trust people. People are the ones who come up with false teachings. They do this because of selfishness, alternate agendas, insecurity, and lack of knowledge.
This puts fear in many people when it comes to small group Bible studies. Yet if you allow fear to rule, you miss out on all that the Holy Spirit can do. Let the Spirit rule, and let Him be the teacher. He is the best teacher.
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June 21, 2019
Who needs science?
We all do. Science has allowed us to go beyond the basic and simple lives that our ancestors lived. We’ve made great leaps in technology and thought.
Science is an ongoing discovery. It’s a discovery of nature that is unending. The more we do research and discover, the more there is to discover. In fact, there won’t be a time when scientists declare that they are done with their task. They will not go to the place of completion where they claim that they have discovered all there is to discover.
God asked Job a simple question: “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me if you have understanding” (Job 38:4). Human beings have been on a quest to gain such an understanding. We’ll have that full understanding once we become exactly like God. Or, once we gain a full understanding, we’ll become like God. Yet both of these statements are highly suspicious.
Allow Science to Glorify God through its never-ending quest for knowledge.
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June 19, 2019
Leave the 99
Maybe it’s time. Calling you to go, calling you to leave the 99. It’s time to go after the one that’s lost.
But can’t you go after the lost one while staying with the 99? Maybe. But the 99 will take up so much of your time and effort that you won’t have much energy left.
That Good shepherd felt it was necessary to leave the 99. He left the 99 in the care of others and felt it was important to give his full effort to seek after the one lost sheep.
Has God been calling you to leave the 99? What would that look like for you?
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June 17, 2019
The wise
It’s in their own eyes, in their own heart. They have built up a great body of knowledge, but it’s within limits. It’s within their sphere of existence here in this physical world.
God understands their limitations and continues to be merciful to them. But God isn’t challenged by their greatness. Sometimes their great knowledge creates a sense of arrogance against God. But God isn’t moved. Here’s what the book of Job says:
“The Almighty – we cannot find him; he is great in power; justice and abundant righteousness he will not violate. Therefore men fear him; he does not regard any who are wise in their own conceit [heart]” (Job 37:23-24).
By all means, gain knowledge and be wise. But recognize that you haven’t scratched the surface of God’s knowledge. As the creator, he exists in a different realm.
Maybe as we gain knowledge, we need to look to God for wisdom beyond our age and beyond our realm.
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