Ron Edmondson writes about the need for leaders entering a new situation to have the skill set to learn the unwritten rules; the unstated (and generally unconscious) culture that a leader seeking to cultivate growth will encounter.
Leaders who don’t develop the skill of learning these unwritten rules will constantly feel blind-sided as their attempts to nurture change are hindered.
From the post:
When we entered an established church I realized quickly there were some things I didn’t need to attempt to change the first couple years – or if we did these unwritten rules would alter how we approached, introduced or implemented change. There were ingrained cultural understandings I needed to know.
How do you know the unwritten rules? First, be aware they exist in every organization. Second, ask good questions of people who have been there longer than you. Third, you’ll discover them mostly as you approach any kind of change which goes against one of them – by experience. (Which is why you don’t build change in a vacuum. You collaborate with others.)
Trust me in this. You may be a genuius with creating new and exciting ideas, but first you must understand this principle. Learn the unwritten rules first.Read the whole article here.
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