A breeze to read at 730 words ~ 2 ½ minutes
This article begins my new, occasional series focused on Peter Drucker. Each issue will highlight three quotes and some commentary. Plus, it will contain some personal reminisces I have of my time with him.
Peter's mentorship, partnership, and guidance profoundly influenced us in my long prior season at Leadership Network.
This was primarily with one of our co-founders, Bob Buford. I came along at the right time to benefit from some of that wisdom and get some personal time with Dr. Drucker in his later years. I am convinced some churches hire me just for me to share personal reflections.
Peter's writings once guided much of the school of thought in business leadership in our country, but he was even more appreciated in Japan and Asia.
Peter's words are not from the Bible or holy scripture. But reflection on some of his sayings always grounds me on how to approach issues.
Three thoughts for today:
"Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things."
― Peter Drucker, Essential Drucker
The Essential Drucker was a compilation of some of his articles rather than a book of his editorial approach. Consider it a "best of" album. It's a great place to start if you are new to his work.
Leadership speakers commonly use the statement: "We need to focus on the right things."
That is undoubtedly true, but the first part of the sentence is just as important. Drucker believed that management was a practice essential for organizations. His most giant book is Management: Its Tasks and Responsibilities.
Bob always kept a copy right behind his desk and read it frequently. The "big blue book" has been revised and updated several times from its original format.
I always take away from this quote the need for management and leadership. Leaders focus on what should be priorities, but it does need a manager to do it well.
Key lesson for church leaders: Don't disparage the managers.
Key lesson for staff that serve visionaries: Don't disparage the leader!
"The best way to predict your future is to create it."
Bob always said Peter was one of those that could see around corners into the future. He did make some bold predictions in the 1950s about the rise of knowledge workers that came true.
But Drucker believed in seizing and capturing opportunities to help define an organization's future. All of it may not work just the way you think or hope it will, but better to define the organization's role and position.
And after all, if it doesn't work, you can stop doing it.
This was true for both personal work and organizational work. Bob often went to Peter for personal guidance on how to invest his time and resources moving forward. I did as well.
Peter's suggestions, never commands, tended to focus on actions that could be taken to create both the flow and conditions to accomplish the organization's mission.
Key lesson for church leaders: We don't know what the future will look like. But we can now control how we invest our time and resources to be productive.
More after this personal word and commendation
Sadly for me, many of my mentors are no longer with us. Peter Drucker, Bob Buford, and Lyle Schaller all deeply impacted my life.
But George Bullard still lives! George was one of the forward-thinking denominational leaders who helped guide my thinking when I served a Baptist association. When I was a very young Associational missionary outside Atlanta, George came and helped me by leading workshops and guiding me.
George just stepped down from a similar role in the past week after a long career serving Southern Baptists and others with his consulting.
Fortunately for me, he is returning to give himself fully to new writings and updates based on his insights.
This is not an endorsement of all of his thinking, but I have greatly appreciated his insights through the years.
You can see his writing here now. It’s worth your time.
And my best to George in his next season. And my thanks for his long service to God’s kingdom work by serving churches as an advisor and mentor.
Article continues….
"If you want something new, you have to stop doing something old."
― Peter Drucker
I can't remember if Peter said that a "stop doing" list was more important than a start doing list, but it is wise counsel.
Applying our best talent and resource to new opportunities was one of his core messages to us.
We almost always have limited resources to apply to a situation and stop doing what is less productive.
It is often wise counsel to let dying programs fade away quietly. I would agree as long as they don't over-engage management and leadership time to keep them alive or a key constituency satisfied. (they are rarely happy when a loved past program is not going well.)
Stopping can be a challenge emotionally. Everything needs an appropriate good ending.
We are notorious as church leaders to keep starting new initiatives and programs without closing out the books on the old.
Key lesson: Don't be that leader and church!
A future issue will cover three more sayings and some more personal stories.
As mentioned above – "The Executive in Action" is a great place to start. Here's a link if you want to purchase a copy. (affiliate to support a New Church Foundation.)