ESSENCE:  The core of Integriosity^® is ALIGNMENT–aligning the organization’s purpose and values with core Biblical purpose and values, then cultivating an organizational culture of Shalom that is aligned with, and reinforces, the organizational purpose and values.  The RENEW stage of Integriosity provides the tools for Re-Alignment–a renewed understanding of Biblical purpose, values and priorities for work and business.  But the RE-ALIGN stage of Integriosity requires using those tools first to RE-IMAGINE.  It is stepping back and looking at the organization, its purpose, its values, its culture, its people and its relationships with fresh eyes.  WHAT COULD IT BE?  What could business a better way look like for the organization and all the people it touches?

Armed with a RENEWED understanding of God’s purposes for work and business, as well as the key Biblical principles that shape the WHAT, WHO, WHY, HOW and WHEN of faith-work integration, it is time to dream.  We are ready to explore how a faith-driven leader can begin to re-imagine their leadership and their organization aligned with a bigger “WHY” and re-imagine the purpose, vision, values and culture of the organization they lead.

Integriosity^® = Alignment

ALIGNMENT!  ALIGNMENT!  ALIGNMENT!  The core of Integriosity is ALIGNMENT.

• • First, aligning the organization’s purpose and values with core Biblical purpose and values.
  • Then, cultivating an organizational culture of Shalom that is aligned with, and reinforces, the organizational purpose and values.

It is an alignment of purpose, values and culture arising from a commitment to Biblical beliefs, values and priorities that leads a person or organization, instinctively, to do the right things, in the right ways and for the right reasons. It is not striving out of duty, to be accepted or to receive blessings. It is the alignment of belief and action through transformation.

Alignment Matters

Purpose and values define the culture of an organization; the culture shapes the behavior of the people in the organization; and the behavior of the people drives the results of the organization.  An organization’s culture is the testing ground for its purpose and its values, because the culture will reflect the real purpose and values of the organization and its leaders, which may not be those emblazoned on the website and framed on the walls.

Whether an organization ultimately does the right things, in the right ways and for the right reasons, goes back to its purpose.  Even intentional and healthy cultures can be intentionally curated for the wrong reasons.  Often the real “WHY” behind “doing good” (or even being “Godly”–remember the Side Road of Prosperitizing?) is profit.  For example, treating people well may be about the cost of attrition and recruitment rather than the inherent dignity of human beings.

A “Why” devoid of a moral compass (e.g., profit maximization) does not support enduring values or a righteous culture.  If, for example, profit maximization is really the “Why” behind a culture (even an intentional and seemingly healthy culture), then stated values can change (and culture can change) to adapt to the current or perceived demands of employees, vendors or customers–values become a tool to achieve profit rather than “the right thing to do” and “who we are”.

Re-Imagination Precedes Re-Alignment

The RENEW stage of Integriosity provides the tools for Re-Alignment–a renewed understanding of Biblical purpose, values and priorities for work and business.  But the RE-ALIGN stage of Integriosity requires using those tools first to RE-IMAGINE.  This is dreaming–allowing the Holy Spirit to open the eyes of leadership to new possibilities.

• • What possibilities come with a bigger “WHY” of people?
  • What changes flow from prioritizing Integrity and Generosity through the values of Righteousness, Kingdom, Love and Humility? 
  • With that renewed understanding, what could purpose, values and priorities look like for the organization?
  • What could culture look like?
  • Do the current purpose, values, priorities and culture fit an “end” of maximizing human flourishing rather than Profit as Purpose?
  • Are the organization’s current products and services the best fit for a new WHY of Humanizing People, Beautifying the World and Glorifying God rather than Profit as Purpose?

This should be FUN and EXCITING!  It is stepping back and looking at the organization, its purpose, its values, its culture, its people and its relationships with fresh eyes.  WHAT COULD IT BE?  What could business a better way look like for the organization and all the people it touches?  What feels most important–most compelling?  Where is the Holy Spirit leading?

We believe it is time to have FUN by RE-IMAGINING business a better way in alignment with Biblical beliefs, values and priorities–it is time to begin faithfully “doing right” through Integriosity^®.

SPOILER ALERT:  We will see that RE-IMAGINE is big picture, but RE-ALIGN is the slow, persistent process of implementing change, one decision, one action and one human interaction at a time.

PERSONAL NOTE (from PM):  Are you wondering what is in the image for this post (the “Imagine” mosaic)?  Can you identify it?  Here is a hint:  New Yorker’s are more likely to recognize it.  Another Hint?  Fans of the Beatles are more likely to recognize it.

I grew up with the Beatles (of course, Paul M was my favorite!) and lived in Manhattan for several years.  The mosaic is part of the Strawberry Fields memorial to John Lennon in Central Park.   One of the first things I think about when I hear the word “Imagine” is the Lennon song by the same name (if you need to hear it again, there is a link below).

I already know what some of you are thinking.  “That is not a Biblical song!”  “That is an anti-capitalism song!”  “That is an anti-religion song!”  “You should have picked ‘I Can Only Imagine’ by MercyMe!”  Perhaps (apparently Lennon himself described it as “anti-religious, anti-nationalistic, anti-conventional, anti-capitalistic”).  I can read the lyrics as a really faithless description of a “kumbaya-world” without the God of the Bible.  I can also “imagine” the lyrics as a description of the Kingdom after God unites heaven and earth.

If you have the courage to RE-IMAGINE your organization in line with a bigger “WHY” of human flourishing, prioritizing the “first things” of Righteousness, Kingdom, Love and Humility, some may say:  “That is anti-capitalistic!  That is anti-shareholder primacy!  That is anti-profit!  That is mixing religious and business!  That is a recipe for failure!”    Perhaps.  I choose to imagine it as God’s design for work, business and the human expression of Imago Dei through productivity and creativity in an environment of Shalom.  You get to RE-IMAGINE the organization God gave you to steward–or not.  And you get to listen to “Imagine” as hopeful–or not.  As for me and my house, I choose “business a better way”, and I choose “hopeful”.

Copyright © 2021 Integrous LLC.  Integriosity is a registered Service Mark of Integrous LLC.

Photo Credit: Original photo by Iñaki del Olmo on Unsplash
(photo cropped)