One of the Catalyst '08 presenters was Dave Ramsey... national radio personality and author of such books as Financial Peace and More Than Enough. Interestingly, Dave's presentation at Catalyst did not deal with personal finances, but rather leadership lessons he'd learned in the trenches of his organization.Dave titled his message "The Enemies of Unity"... and his points are filled with insight for churches and organizations. Dave indicated that few churches or organizations experience real unity. Here are Dave's "Enemies of Unity," along with comments he shared as he unpacked these ideas:
The 5 Main Enemies of Unity:
1) Poor communication
2) Gossip
3) Unresolved disagreements
4) Lack of shared purpose
5) Sanctioned incompetence
- Poor communication can take many forms, but when the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing, strife sets in.
- Gossip is degrading and will destroy a church or organization. If you're talking to someone about a problem, and that person isn't in a position to fix the problem you're talking to them about... that's gossip.
- By definition, gossip is when a negative is discussed with anyone who can't help solve the problem.
- A successful leader develops and maintains a culture in which negatives are handed up and positives are handed down.
- Unresolved disagreements happen when a leader doesn't know the exist, or when the leader avoids confrontation.
- A little confrontation cleanses the wound, and allows both parties to go forward in a spirit of unity.
- When you are aware of hurt feelings and/or disagreements, act quickly and decisively.
- Lack of shared purpose is caused when a leader doesn't restate the goal, the vision and mission early enough and often enough.
- Sanctioned incompetence demoralizes.
- Team members will eventually become demotivated when someone else on the team can't or won't do their job, and a leader will not take action.
- For the sake of unity in the entire group, the leader must go to battle early and often with an of these enemies of unity.
- When unity is valued in a church or organization, a team will support its leaders in keeping these enemies of unity from the gate.
