I’m always looking to the next new idea, and this entrepreneurial spirit is reflected in the way I run every part of my business.
As Vanderbloemen continues in a new season of growth and business that has seen us expand into the staffing of Christian schools, nonprofits, Christian for-profit businesses and family legacy offices, I have discovered that these two key ideas have helped me go further and faster in growing Vanderbloemen.
PURSUE AGILITY WITH FOCUS
One of our core values is “ever-increasing agility,” but being agile doesn’t mean being flighty.
The strength of an entrepreneur is their ability to see opportunities before others do. The same is true of forward-thinking pastors who can spot kingdom-based needs before others. But beware the dark side of the entrepreneurial spirit, something I call “shiny object syndrome.” Too often, businesses or ministries start out strong but try to expand their offerings in a number of directions that do not align with the core mission.
At Vanderbloemen, focusing on helping churches build their best team has acted as an anchor for us as we’ve grown. And now, after a decade always serving the church, we’ve seen how we can help others working in other faith-based industries. It’s exciting, but we’ve always kept our focus sharp. We’re continuing to do what we’ve perfected over a decade but with greater agility and expanded perspective.
Implementing a new idea in your business may not happen overnight, but focused agility can help you grow in directions you’ve never been before.
CULTURE WINS EVERY TIME
Leaders who know their culture and hire around it will see far more dividends than those who hire just for talent. People looking for their dream job will find it when they look for a ministry that they fit culturally rather than simply a company that has a high growth rate.
Culture is the heart of where the rest of your business should develop. It influences everything, from what questions I ask before a job offer is even made, to what the everyday life of an employee looks like.
I truly believe that culture trumps competency every single time. Culture cannot be taught, but competency can. As you consider your church culture, ask yourself these questions: Do we have a well-defined culture? Does my team match our culture?
At Vanderbloemen we have developed a free cultural assessment for individuals and teams to take. Check it out at TheCultureTool.com.
Agility—being able to pivot, move and shift with rapid changes—will allow your culture to bend, swerve and survive. Together, these two ideas—agility with focus and culture—will help you grow with exhilarating results.