Google is arguably one of the most successful software companies of the new millennium. No offense meant to Microsoft (I am still a very big proponent of .Net), but since Y2K, Google has evolved from simply a search engine to one of the most powerful and ubiquitous platforms of the Internet; and I get the feeling they are just getting started. Can a church look at what drives Google's success and apply some of the lessons learned to impact their own success? Let's take a closer look at some of Google's characteristics and you decide. If you look at the information readily available from Google's corporate website (investor.google.com) as well as read the books published about their success such as The Google Story by David Vise and Mark Malseed or The Search: How Google and Its Rivals Rewrote the Rules of Business and Transformed Our Culture by John Battelle, or talk to some of the folks who work at or with their employees, you can see many of the following traits:
- Sense of Moral Obligation - "Do no evil" is Google's motto to the point that they live and breathe by it. Each employee has a strong sense of moral awareness and responsibility to their end-users, who have placed their trust in Google to deliver the best user experience possible. Being a part of something that matters and working on products that you believe in is remarkably fulfilling. If working on a search engine coupled with an "advertising revenue model" is fulfilling, how much more fulfilling is helping people deal with the challenges of life and their long-term soul disposition? Isn't it important for the church to help each person have the best "life experience" possible?
- Servicing End Users - One of Google's original goals is to develop services that significantly improve the lives of as many people as possible. The goal of the church and how it measures itself needs to include the obligation of providing service to the congregation. When I talk about the business of the church I am not talking about the back office functions of the church - the business of the church are the people and helping them live life to the full. How's your customer service?
- Creativity - Innovation is definitely in Google's bloodline. They approach problems differently and thus their solutions are innovative. One of their strengths comes from the fact that they encourage every employee to bring forth creative, unique ideas. Is your church encouraging innovation within its ministries or is it just the same old thing?
- People Investment - Google makes their employees feel like they are important and valued simply because they are people - sounds like the Christian thing to do! Not only do they provide great benefits, Google tries to create a workplace environment that is fun and can contribute to inspiration. They try to put in place an environment where people will want to actually enjoy coming to work. How many churches create such a fun, yet spiritually inspiring environment? If the staff and volunteers are happy, perhaps even having fun, aren't they showing the good side of Christianity? Isn't that life to the full?
- Attitude - Google sets the bar extremely high and always strives to deliver more than expected. They do not accept the best as an end-point, but instead as a starting point. What a great perspective! How can a church view excellence as a starting point not an end point? You can examine that in your church from how the budget is established through how the strategy is executed. Too many churches settle for mediocrity - in their Sunday service message to their follow-up on inquiries to their children's curriculum to their __( you fill in the blank )__.
The formula for success at Google is not necessarily new. Look at other companies with similar success stories and you will find many of the same characteristics. But in examining Google's success, isn't it reassuring to know the formula still works. Now if we can only remember this as we deal with each other on a day-to-day basis - it is all about execution!
Grace to you,
Jhook