Although I am a big reader, I am typically not a fan of “workplace parables,” which explains why I haven’t been particularly drawn to Patrick Lencioni’s work in the past despite seeing his books on the bestseller lists.
When he released a non-parable book last year, The Advantage, I decided to take a peek. I ended up reading (devouring) the book quickly and about wore out a highlighter in the process!
In brief, The Advantage serves as a guide to organizational health. Right from the start, Lencioni highlights two requirements for success: an organization needs to be smart (in terms of strategy, finance, marketing, and the like) and healthy (minimal politics and confusion, high morale and productivity). Rather than providing simple “quick fixes” for organizational health that don’t last, he offers a more sustainable culture shift: one underscored by strong leadership, recognized values, and defined purpose.
One of the longings I hear most often from my executive clients is their desire for clarity – an issue Lencioni has obviously experienced as well, since 3 of his 4 disciplines in The Advantage revolve around this topic. I was reminded of Cy Wakeman’s statement in Reality Based Leadership: “Ambiguity is the source of all conflict.” When we can clearly communicate goals, expectations, procedures and values, we reduce tension and misunderstandings and increase levels of engagement.
While profound statements – and more importantly, thought-provoking questions for organizational leaders to ask themselves – abound throughout the book, my favorite appears within Discipline 2 – Create Clarity. Here, Lencioni discusses the importance of knowing your purpose and asserts that all organizations exist to make people’s lives better.
“Now that doesn’t mean that all organizations make people’s lives better in major, transformational ways,” he writes. “And it doesn’t mean they make ALL people’s lives better. Nonetheless, every organization must contribute in some way to a better world for some group of people, because if it doesn’t, it will, and should, go out of business.”
He continues with a question all organizations should ask themselves first and frequently: “How do we contribute to a better world?”
That question alone, and the discussions that will ensue from it, make this book worth the investment, in my opinion. I also appreciate his exercises that focus on building on people’s strengths to make a stronger, healthier organization.
Whether you lead a large corporation or own a small business, the takeaways from The Advantage will benefit your organizational health. And if you, like me, are not a fan of leadership parables, you’ll be relieved to know that Lencioni’s storytelling skills make this an enjoyable read, too!
Dr. Christi Hegstad helps you successfully do what you love! As President of MAP Professional Development Inc., she coaches professionals to get unstuck and reach Bold Goals with clarity, confidence, and meaningful action. Learn more at www.meaning-and-purpose.com and follow Dr. Christi on Facebook and Twitter.
Do you ever get a message over and over, and over and over, until you finally realize the message is meant for YOU?
This question prompts the creation of your bucket list or, as I prefer to call it, your Life List. What would we find on yours?
Brenda shared how her “Run a 5k” a few years ago has resulted in her now running many 5ks, 10ks, half-marathons, and IronGirls – and even achieving her 
As you likely know, the more specific you become, the greater your likelihood of reaching your vision. When it comes to Life List dreaming, however, it’s o.k. to have some open-ended items on there, too. For example, a few years ago I put “Make a significant contribution to charity” on my Life List, not knowing how that would play out. About a year later I grew my hair out enough to have 10″ cut off and sent to Locks of Love, so they could create a wig for someone who was experiencing hair loss due to chemotherapy or other reasons. The openness of that item allowed me to fulfill it in a way I wouldn’t have predicted.
What are you putting off until the time is right? 
Just as important as clearing away the excess is determining what’s causing it in the first place. For me, and for many of my clients, the culprit is quite clear: unfinished business.
Winners aren’t made in one game any more than a plant suddenly grows from seed to flourishing with one spot of sunshine. We plant the seeds of success daily – with every call we make, every blog we post, every connection we form, every action we take in alignment with our vision.
Victim stories, in which we are the innocent sufferers. “It’s not my fault.”
In the course of our discussion, one vibrant member asked an important question: What if your leader is the one causing the drama?
Now we’re experiencing an important shift. Rather than look in awe at those who are constantly busy, we admire those who live and work with intention, focus, and purpose.