Vance Havner once said: “First there is a man, then a movement, then a machine, and then a monument.” Most organizations begin with a person's vision: A dream of what could be, an ideal product or service the market needs, a new way of doing something old, and a picture of the future transformed by their innovation. So it begins with a “man.” 

People rally around that vision. They join that person. Excitement and hope fill the air. There's movement toward something great, something better. And so a movement begins. 

As momentum builds and more people join the movement, organizational rules, administrative systems, and a series of institutional protocols are implemented to ensure the ongoing success of that vision. And so a “machine” is built, set in motion, and fine-tuned and maintained for ongoing success. 

But unfortunately, the very thing meant to maintain and safeguard the success of that vision, also has the potential to choke out the original passion so indispensable at the beginning. And if the machine is not upgraded, re-tuned, and sometimes replaced, the original vision becomes but a memory recorded on a monument. 

This is not to say that institutions are bad. But they are made up of people, and people are not machines. Humans get new ideas about how to follow an original vision. Contexts change and new products and services that fulfill the original vision are required. 

I believe institutions become better when they have change baked into their DNA. Here are a few ideas of how that might look:

1. Consistently emphasize your unchanging vision and seek ways to better implement it. Be intentional about both vision-casting and brainstorming sessions.
2. Become a student of your industry, product, service, and the ever-changing market. That means learn and listen. Always. You've never completely “figured it out” or fully “arrived."
3. Evaluate rules and protocols on a regular basis to see if they are still relevant. When making new ones, attach review and/or expiration dates.

What would you add to that list? I'd love to hear your ideas!