No Credit Is Good Credit

By Keith Thorn

I visited with my good friend Steve Brockman several times at a ballroom dance studio that he owns in St. Louis called, “Just Dancing.” While waiting for him to finish his lessons, I noticed different experience levels of partners around the room. Some partners were quite advanced, almost expert looking. Some were “dance challenged” and some seemed “rhythmless.” As I watched these couples, I observed that the best dancers were the ones where I could not tell who was leading… beautiful expressions of direction, cohesiveness and synergy in joyful motion.

In my business, as a professional consultant to profit and not-for-profit businesses and ministries dating back 1994, I’ve come to the conclusion that the best board, executive and key leadership relationships are those where you cannot tell who is leading. From one perspective it appears the Executive Director is leading the Board and from another perspective it appears as if the Board is leading. Yet, from another perspective, it would seem like the organization’s key leaders (managers) are the ones taking the leadership roles, especially in a small organization like Pregnancy Resource Centers (PRC).

It’s obvious to me when I observe dysfunctional or troubled organizations - just who takes the lead. There is little doubt about who is in charge. Due to its clarity, the authoritarian style is easier to operate under - but the style limits ideas and opportunities. This style does not allow for the proper feeding and nurturing of key people. The CEO becomes over-burdened, unfulfilled, and certainly alienated.

In the style of leadership at PRC, it’s hard to tell who’s leading – the Board, the Executive Director, or PRC’s key leaders. In this shared responsibility atmosphere there is open conversation and discussion about issues such as what direction the organization is moving, who is responsible for what, and what exactly are the boundaries. With responsibility comes authority and responsibilities are assigned by role with gifts and talents taken into consideration in the decision making process. Team ownership is promoted as the only synergetic way to succeed and accomplish the organizational mission.

Organizational transparency happens. A different style of clarity arises for open dialog. From this style of leadership an Executive can lead and follow with confidence that it is not all up to him or her, nor that they are powerless.

Shared leadership is harder and slower, taking much more courage and faith to “give and it shall be given unto you.” It takes time to build trust. Conflicts arise and are sometimes not easy to resolve. Sometimes a consensus can take long conversations, but the feeding and nurturing is well worth the work.

Often the health of an organization can be judged by the nature of the relationship between the Board and Executive. As that relationship goes, so goes the organization.

As PRC embarks with a new President/CEO, Mark Dungan, I want all of our volunteers and donors (past, present, and future) to know that the PRC Board, the CEO and key Directors will sometimes lead and sometimes follow. It will be hard to know who’s leading because the movement and rhythm of all three will be working in harmony for graceful results. At all times we all will grow to walk in grace with a passion and a vision for saving more lives for now and for eternity.

President Reagan had a sign on his desk that simply said, “It’s amazing what can be accomplished when you don’t worry who gets the credit.” That credo embodies the PRC management mindset. Therefore, the credit and glory are easily given to God.

Keith Thorn is the Director of Marketing and Development for the Pregnancy Resource Centers of Greater St. Louis. To find out more about the ministries of PRC visit their web site at www.prcmo.net or call 314-783-3040.