Why are we doing this?

Last night I dined with the interim dean of a college. As we talked about the role of an interim, she pointed out that one of the most important questions an interim can ask – actually ANY new executive – is “Why?”  “Why?” asked with genuine curiosity. Not “why the heck would you ever do this?” but just, “why are things done this way?”

Customs, traditions and ways of doing things build up over time until the original rationale is lost. The person who first instituted a procedure is no longer there. Circumstances, personnel, resources and society have changed, but the process has become so habitual that it’s just normal procedure.

The new CEO of Target, Brian Cornell, used this powerful question to completely remake the chain of stores over the two years he has been at the helm. At a time when so many department stores are having a hard time, Target is flourishing.

He did it by asking questions. With the advantage of being new, he was able to look into every aspect of the stores and ask questions to get at root causes. Going beyond finding those causes, though, he continued asking questions.

Looking at ourselves with fresh eyes isn’t always easy, but what if we put ourselves in the place of that interim or new executive, looked around, and asked, “why?”

If “why” sounds accusatory, there are other ways to ask:

• Tell me about this process. How did it start?
• What prompted us to start doing that?
• What are we trying to accomplish by doing this?
• How does doing this help our mission?

Note that US and WE and OUR, not YOU or YOUR, makes it about all of us and the organization, not a single individual.

Real curiosity is the key. Discovery — without first thinking you have a better way to do it.

For board members, this means listening to the newest members; encouraging them to be curious. And not being defensive when they ask. Join together in the discovery.

It’s the first step in letting go of what made you great, so you can envision new ways of creating change in your community.

Just like the real estate agent helps you see what you’ve overlooked for years, fresh eyes can help us see the procedures that have solidified into place until they are invisible to us. Only then can you change them.

Follow me at The Detwiler Group for more about nonprofit governance, education and strategic planning, or reach me at sdetwiler@detwiler.com.