Artful Nuance #2: Embrace adaptation over collaboration.
I wouldn’t normally put adaptation and collaboration even in mild tension with each other. I still think that adaptation is the result of strong collaboration; however, this unprecedented season calls for it.
Let me explain why.
It’s the only way to keep up with the speed of change.
I will always believe in collaboration and note that I didn’t say abandon it. It’s just for this intense season that sometimes adaptation may need to override collaboration.
If we take the time you and I would like for collaboration, we will likely miss the window for change and fall behind the curve. Your leadership may be inadvertently rendered ineffective because you gave too much time to assessment rather than moving to action.
Talk? Of course. Pray and get wise counsel from the team. But don’t get stuck in conversation that doesn’t go anywhere. This complex season requires adapting to change at high speed.
Adapt to what I’m calling a “moving strategy.” You know from the beginning of this post that I’m a die-hard believer in a strong strategy and sticking to it. But your strategy must serve you, not you serve your strategy.
Keep your strategy flexible. If it remains value-based and vision-driven, that will keep you on course but allow you to move in the moment as needed.
Artful Nuance #3: Wrestle the tension between the speed of life and the speed of love.
Where the first two points are more organizationally driven, this point asks you also to consider when you need to slow down to connect personally regardless of the pressures, tensions, and complexities you are facing.
Deeper, honest, more unified, and heart-felt relationships are a significant part of the solution to many of the problems we face.
If you were to draw a diagonal line with an arrow up and toward the right, you would label it “the speed of life.” Then draw a second line with an arrow downward, crossing the first line, and label it “the speed of love.”
The speed of life says do as much as you can, as fast as you can, with the calling and resources God has given you. The speed of love calibrates the speed of life, saying slow down enough to care for, nurture, and enjoy the relationships closest to you and those God calls you to.
They intersect in a different place for every person and for every organization. According to the needs of your relationships, the line for the speed of love can move either higher or lower along the line of the speed of life.
Accomplish all you can, but never sacrifice relationships.
This is always a tension for passionate leaders called to a purpose. But in community, we can remind each other of what is truly important even when leading is more difficult than ever before.
- Remain values-driven
- Adapt quickly
- Never lose sight of the speed of love.
This article about artful nuance over strategy originally appeared here.
