Hello, My Name is Sarah, and I'm Addicted to the Harvard Business Review

A couple years ago, one of my fellow clergywomen mentioned to me that she read the Harvard Business Review regularly. I was at the time a somewhat avid reader of church leadership stuff, so/but that hadn't occurred to me. I started by picking up a book by some HBR writers, then dove into a subscription. After a short lapse in my subscription (an infant and reading didn't work too well together), I recently got back into it (I'd always kept up with the online articles that were free) and boy is it like a drug--I'm addicted again!

The odd and sad thing is that most church leadership stuff is like three years behind the HBR. THREE YEARS! While I'm glad my colleagues have of late been hearing about adaptive challenges and technical problems (though often somewhat incorrectly explained) it is perhaps symptomatic of the mediocrity that we've come to accept in our churches that such a delay is acceptable.

Ugh. Mediocrity. That word haunts me. It haunts me as I contsantly strive to do better, while dealing with the realities of limited time, skills and resources. The mediocrity which churches put up with in their staff and leaders. The mediocrity that is disguised as politeness or Christian grace.
I get so frustrated with myself and others doing JUST ENOUGH or not even that, because I believe God has gifted all of us, and we ought to use our gifts to the fullest. And that we are all called to discern where God calls us and others to serve. And to speak honestly and with grace when a season has passed or when there is room for growth. But to do all this without letting our own smallest selves or self-focus cloud our vision. Too much.

So I find myself falling back into the comforting embrace of the Harvard Business Review, where I can dream of a world in which the church actually tries to do a good job, not just get by or wait for someone else to interpret the latest learnings and best practices (and often, to do so poorly).

This morning, I am reading and reflecting upon several HBR articles, and I hope to be able to post here as I get a chance about some of the articles. This morning, my mind is just swimming in all the wonderful business-y, leadership wisdom of it all. It's fun for me to think through how these corporate teachings are applicable or must be adapted for local churches...and I look forward to getting your feedback. For now, I've got to get my brain back into HBR-gear :-)