Directing your passion for better organizations

I have been thinking a lot about the dangers of misdirected passion these days. I am a Boy Scout leader and every year we have new scouts and their parents become part of the troop. When there is a large number of people with a lot of energy and excitement that join it is always exciting. I have learned a hard lesson however. Where there is passion there is also going to be some disagreement. If that passion is not managed during the disagreement then there is great potential for dysfunction. If the energy for change from the new members (which ought to be welcomed) is seen as a threat or an insult, then there will be resistance from the existing leadership. If that energy and excitement for change is not presented in the right way then the existing leadership can end up being insulted and resistant to the change.

It made me think of the following Scout analogy. Building a fire requires several things: a spark, tinder, kindling and fuel. The spark lights the tinder and the kindling provides the ability to maintain the fire until fuel can be successfully added to sustain the fire. Watching boys learn this I often find them trying to light kindling or fuel with the spark. It is frustrating and unsuccessful. Building organizations is very similar. All organizations need that spark of new energy and enthusiasm to keep the organization fresh and healthy. But if that energy and enthusiasm is not properly applied then there are a lot of sparks and friction but no fire. The new energy and excitement has to be carefully applied and targeted so that it catches and provides the foundation for the sustained growth everyone is trying to achieve. Just as you can't light a log with a spark you can't change an organization overnight. Be patient, build the relationships and be sure that you desire for change is motivated by the betterment of the organization and not the promotion of you own agenda or your desire to "save the organization".