Mike 
You may not be familiar with the term “drag coefficient,” but you will be familiar with the concept. Wikipedia says it is “used to quantify the drag or resistance of an object in a fluid environment, such as air or water.” Now for the practical application – it’s the calculation engineers use to improve aerodynamics. That sleek design for a car or airplane isn’t just for aesthetics. Reducing the drag improves fuel economy and allows it to travel faster.
I wish we could calculate the drag coefficient for a church or ministry or non-profit. The “drag” would be anything that slows our progress toward the mission, or causes us to waste valuable resources. Even though a mathematical formula doesn’t exist, I can point to three kinds of people that cause organizational drag:
- Confused people. When individual staff members or volunteer leaders are unclear about direction and priorities, they may work hard without making meaningful progress. The solution is to invest the time to help them understand the organization’s vision and its implications for their role.
- Miscast people. When a person is in a role that doesn’t match his or her abilities, everyone will be frustrated. The individual will be frustrated with a lack of effectiveness, and others will be frustrated that they’re doing extra work to make up for this deficiency. The solution may be training, coaching, shifting the person into a different role, or helping them decide to move on.
- Toxic people. These individuals may be highly competent in their roles, but their negative or arrogant attitudes drain everyone around them. The solution is to confront this issue head on, and if it is not resolved, to remove the toxicity. (See my previous blog on “Paying for Bad Attitudes” for more on this subject.)
