Leadership expert John Maxwell has written over fifty books, including three that have sold more than a million copies: The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, Developing the Leader Within You, and The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader. Recently he blogged about the value of bottom line thinking in nonprofit organizations. For these organizations, including churches, the bottom line isn’t financial. Instead, Maxwell suggests the bottom line is “the end, the take away, the desired result.” With this in mind, he offers five ways bottom line thinking helps organizations. Bottom line thinking:
- provides great clarity
- helps you assess every situation
- helps you make the best decisions
- generates high morale
- ensures your future.
So What?
Within the life of a given local congregation individuals and groups can benefit from bottom line thinking. When generated from organizational clarity, it provides a simple way to focus (or refocus) individuals and groups.
- What additional benefits would you add to Maxwell’s list?
- What, if any, hesitations do you have about embracing bottom line thinking in your local congregation?