From Good to Great: Tailored Practices for Social Sector Leaders

Non-profit leaders are on the front lines of enhancing the quality of life for all members of society. Whether leading a church, human welfare, or civic organization, social sector leaders have unique opportunities to contribute to human flourishing. But their challenges are unique, and the models presented to them from other cultural spheres are often unsuitable, even damaging, for non-profit leadership.

Jim Collins, distinguished author and leadership researcher, opens his 2005 monograph, Good to Great and the Social Sectors, with the following assertion:

We must reject the idea—well-intentioned, but dead wrong—that the primary path to greatness in the social sectors is to be more like a business. Most businesses—like most of anything else in life—fall somewhere between mediocre and good. Few are great. When you compare great companies with good ones, many widely practiced business norms turn out to correlate with mediocrity, not greatness. So, then, why would we want to import the practices of mediocrity into the social sectors?

If typical business practice isn’t the right model, then what is? Collins argues and has demonstrated through his research that distinct disciplines lead to greatness—practices that can be applied within all institutional realms, including the social sector.

If you lead, work for, or serve on a board of a non-profit organization, including a church, then this cohort is for you. Collins’ monograph will serve as a basis for our exploration, but we’ll also draw on other key readings, empirical research, and biblical/theological insights.