Fixing Leaks

“Houston, we have a problem.” According to an article in the local newspaper, “Enough water seeped from broken pipes to supply 383,000 residents for one year. … Houston pipelines gushed 22.4 billion gallons of water in 11,343 leaks last fiscal year. That equates to about 15.2 percent of the city’s total water supply.” That’s a lot of wasted resources, and a lot of effort constantly reacting to problems. Why does Houston have such a huge problem with leaking water pipes? It starts with a chronic under-investment in infrastructure maintenance over the years. Then it’s complicated by the fact that Houston’s clay soil shifts over time, putting extra stress on pipes. Add to this the reality that it’s hard to detect early warning signs since the pipes are underground. I suspect that your organization also has leaks. Your church may be leaking volunteers or donors. Your may have a “brain drain” as talented staff members quietly leak away. Have you ever quantified the volume of these leaks? For Houston, it’s 15.2 percent. What about the cost of leaks? Do you know what the impact is on your organization? And perhaps most importantly, have you investigated the cause of your leaks so that you can take steps to prevent them? That’s one place where my analogy breaks down. It may be difficult for the city to create an early detection system, but it shouldn’t be hard for a leader to do so. Paying attention to the data and keeping a finger on the organizational pulse are key steps. Then start to build a culture that is serious about preventing unwanted leaks. Over time, you may find far fewer resources slipping out the door. That brings up one other shortfall in the analogy. Unlike the city’s broken pipes, some of your leaks may be good. If you are leaking members who don’t agree with your church’s vision, it’s better to let them go. If you are equipping staff members and intentionally sending them out to serve in broader ways, that may be a good leak. But do you know the difference? How much leakage exists in your organization, and do you have a plan to address it? It’s easy to receive my blogs by email. Just sign-up on Feedburner by clicking here.]]>