“From Good to Great”… in a Christian context
Session 2: First who... then what
THE RIGHT TEAM
“The good-to-great leaders began the transformation by getting
the right people on the bus (and the wrong people off the bus)
and then figured out where to drive it.
The key point... is not just the idea of getting the right people on
the team. The key point is that ‘who’ questions come before
‘what’ decisions – before vision, before strategy, before
organization structure, before tactics. First who, then what – as a
rigorous discipline, consistently applied.
Getting the right people on the bus...
1. How has your workplace team been
chosen? Can you influence this?
2. Have you ever been part of a team
where it’s been “first who then
what”? What has been the impact?
MATTHEW 9 v9 As Jesus went on from there,
he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the
tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told
him, and Matthew got up and followed him.
RECRUITING THE RIGHT PEOPLE – Rigorous not Ruthless
“Whether someone is the ‘right person’ has more to do with character traits and innate
capabilities than with specific knowledge, background or skills.”
Practical Disciplines:
1. When in Doubt, don’t hire – keep looking
2. When you know you need to make a people change, act
3. Put your best people on your biggest opportunities, not your biggest problems
How much weight is given to character traits
and innate capabilities in your workplace?
Can you influence this?
When building relationships with people
how much do we consider self-interest
over long-term mutual benefit?
THE RIGHT PEOPLE = A simpler life
“Good-to-great management teams consist of people who debate vigorously in search of the best answers, yet who
unify behind decisions, regardless of parochial interests.”
“The people we interviewed from the good-to-great companies clearly loved
what they did, largely because the loved who they did it with.”
How far are rigorous debate and questions
encouraged in your workplace team? Can you
influence this?
Are there other areas of your life where you can
unite behind the ‘Team’ decision?
First Who – Then What
Unusual Assessment Day event: God + Me = ?
JUDGES 7:1-8: Then Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and all the people who were with him, rose early and camped
beside the spring of Harod; and the camp of Midian was on the north side of them by the hill of Moreh in the valley.
2
The Lord said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give Midian into their hands, for
Israel would become boastful, saying, ‘My own power has delivered me.’ 3 Now therefore come, proclaim in the
hearing of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is afraid and trembling, let him return and depart from Mount Gilead.’” So
22,000 people returned, but 10,000 remained.
4
Then the Lord said to Gideon, “The people are still too many; bring them down to the water and I will test them for
you there. Therefore it shall be that he of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go with you; but
everyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.” 5 So he brought the people down to
the water. And the Lord said to Gideon, “You shall separate everyone who laps the water with his tongue as a dog
laps, as well as everyone who kneels to drink.” 6 Now the number of those who lapped, putting their hand to their
mouth, was 300 men; but all the rest of the people kneeled to drink water. 7 The Lord said to Gideon, “I will deliver
you with the 300 men who lapped and will give the Midianites into your hands; so let all the other people go, each
man to his home.” 8 So the 300 men took the people’s provisions and their trumpets into their hands. And Gideon
sent all the other men of Israel, each to his tent, but retained the 300 men; and the camp of Midian was below him
in the valley.
The Right People = A Simpler Life
EXODUS 18:17-23: Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and these people who
come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. 19 Listen now
to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before
God and bring their disputes to him. 20 Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to
live and how they are to behave. 21 But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy
men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 22 Have
them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases
they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. 23 If you do this and
God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.”