The Thing in the Bushes: Turning Organizational Blind Spots into Competitive Advantage is “a metaphor to describe the unidentified and often-denied problem that prevents an organization from achieving its goals” (p. 9). How does one confront “the thing in the bushes”? The authors have developed a Relational Performance program to identify and confront “the thing in the bushes”. The Relational Performance program is comprised of these principles:
- Live Out Your Code. What are the values, mission, and goals of the organization?.
- Encourage Personal Excellence. People need to know how to relate to one another in healthy and positive ways.
- Unleash Leadership in Everyone. Strong, wise, inspiring leaders are essential at every level of the organization.
- Practice Relational Network Thinking. This requires one to focus on the whole organization and its relationships.
- Create Dynamic Boundaries. Good relational performance maintains healthy boundaries that are not rigid, vague or unclear.
- Nurture Authentic Communication. Open and honest communication is essential to a healthy organization.
- Balance Trust and Cynicism. Healthy relationships and organizations are built on trust.
- Proactively Manage Change. This involves responding effectively to changing conditions and transitions.
- Focus Beyond Yourself. The goal of an organization should focus on making the world a better place. (pp. 16-20)
Do you sense there may be something holding you or your organization back? This book may help you identify not merely the symptoms but the causes of the disorder. There may be times when we need wisdom beyond ourselves. Solomon wisely observed,
A plan in the heart of a man is like deep water, but a man of understanding draws it out. (Proverbs 20:5)
Whatever your group may be: a business, a church, a team, a club or a family; may you not be plagued by “the thing in the bushes”.
Rick Higgins
Associate Pastor – Discipleship. The Church at LifePark
Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University
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