There is a trick to adding new structure to a growing organization. Frankly, I think there is value in unstructured growth. We shouldn’t be afraid of growth we cannot understand. It’s messier, harder to contain, even uncomfortable at times, but it also keeps leaders energized, maintains momentum, and helps spur exponential growth.
As the organization grows – and as strategy changes – additions in structure have to be added. Even entrepreneurs shouldn’t be afraid of healthy structure. Adding new structure, however, can be a painful and disruptive process if not handled carefully. We must add structure strategically.
Too many churches and organizations are stalled, because when things got messy due to growth they simply added a new rule. The fact is structure should never be too inflexible. It should change with the organization. It should even change at times with the people who are in the organization.
How do you add good, helpful new structure in a growing organization?
5 Suggestions for Adding New Structure
1. The change should make sense with the organizational DNA.
We have to be careful altering something in a way which could disrupt the fiber, core, or root foundation of the organization. DNA is formed fast, but changed slowly – and sometimes never. It’s who an organization is and who people have come to expect it to be. It’s hard to disrupt this without disrupting future potential for growth.
Every church and organization is unique. For example, the structure we tried to add or change in church revitalization looked different from the structure we had in church planting.
I see new leaders get in trouble here a lot – when they don’t take time to understand the pre-established DNA before they announce a major change.
2. The structure added should not impede progress.
This seems common sense to me, but I’ve learned this is not always the case. Structure should further enable the completion of the vision, not detract from it.
Notice I said progress and not growth with this suggestion. It could be you need some temporary structure which slows growth for a season. When I was in city leadership there was a time we needed to slow the pace of growth so we could catch up with infrastructure in the city. We actually saw that as progress. If it slowed growth forever it would no longer be progress.
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