Embrace the Genius...

of the "AND"

Instead of being oppressed by the "Tyranny of the OR," highly visionary leaders - and the organizations they lead - liberate themselves with the "Genius of the AND" - the ability to embrace both extremes or dimensions at the same time.

Instead of choosing between A OR B, they figure out a way to have both A AND B.

Jim Collins first introduced this line of thinking in "Built to Last" in 1994. Intended primarily for the business audience, it wasn't long till perceptive church leaders picked up the idea and ran with it.

For example, here are a few ways it might play out in ChurchWorld:

On the one hand                                 Yet on the other hand
a fixed core ideology          AND        vigorous change 
conserve the core              AND         bold, risky moves
clear vision and direction    AND        experimentation 
leaders steeped in the core AND        leaders who induce change
ideological control              AND        operational autonomy
close-knit culture               AND        ability to change and adapt
long-term goals                 AND        short-term performance

This is not just a balancing act. "Balance" implies going to the midpoint, fifty-fifty, half and half. Visionary leaders lead organizations that seek to have a fixed core ideology and take vigorous change to the extreme.

There's no gray, cloudy, shapeless mass in these organizations. It's a bold attempt to be both "this" AND "that" - at the same time, all the time.

Need a real-life example in ChurchWorld? Come back tomorrow and see how some of the early pioneers in today's multi-site movement used the genius of the "AND" to launch a movement.