I'll be blogging a few reflections from the recent, excellent Geneva Coaches Conference.
One person made the assertion that 'culture is more important than strategy in leadership'. It was said that if you get culture right, then the strategy and procedure just flows out naturally. It sounded right. Good. Holistic.
But I want to question the assertion.
Strategy without culture
Culture and values are extremely important. Mission, strategy and goals without a healthy culture is unhealthy and ineffective. Culture will wok in synergy with strategy in a way that means you have to 'manage' your mission/strategy less.
But mission, strategy and goals are also important. I doubt they are less or more important. Equally important? A different thing that has its unique place of parallel but inter-related importance?
To talk biblically – our 'culture' is the two great love commandments and our 'strategy' is the great commission. Which is 'more important'? It's a non question. Both are important and they are inter-depedent. It is loving to make disciples and the disciples we make are to live lives of love.
Culture without strategy
Because a culture without a clear strategy is aimless. It's unclear on its goals, purpose, direction. It can't make the time-based, context-based priority decisions in line with end goals.
An organisation exists for a purpose. And without clear outlining of that purpose the culture will become flabby and aimless. Clear mission and goals will lead to some culture and values things just flowing out naturally – 'If we are committed to this, of course we need to value these things and live this way'.
Objection: but part of the culture IS the mission?
Someone might object, “But you are separating things out. A healthy culture INCLUDES a commitment to the mission. That's part of it, you're caricaturing things!”
That's right, the two are inter-related. You can't ever separate culture and strategy in real life. But you can separate them conceptually. The initial assertion was doing exactly the same thing. I might as easily object, “But you are separating things out. A healthy strategy INCLUDES fulfilling it in line with our culture. That's part of it, you're caricaturing things”.
Culture and strategy are both necessary – and are two perspectives of looking at how we get to actions. In his book 'Relational Leadership', Walter C. Wright draws an hourglass diagram (p. 161):
A. MISSION
B. GOALS
C. OBJECTIVES
D. ACTIONS
C'. POLICIES
B'. VALUES
A'. CULTURE
We need to begin both with Mission and work DOWN to actions or UP from culture to actions.
