Riding the Gravitron

Do you remember the Gravitron?  You know, that  circular-shaped carnival ride where you get inside of it, stand up against a wall, and it starts spinning.  As the ride spins faster and faster you feel yourself being pressed harder and harder against the wall.  And then ... the floor drops from beneath you!  You scream in terror but ... you don't fall.  You remain just where you are, plastered against the wall, safe and sound, having fun.  Centrifugal and centripetal forces, acting together, keep you suspended until the floor rises at the end.  It's a very simple and exciting ride.

Unlike roller coasters and other thrill rides at the amusement park, the Gravitron requires no harnesses, straps, or bars to keep the people on it from being flung into space.  Natural forces alone keep people suspended, in place, on board, and having fun when the bottom drops out.

Organization are a lot like thrill rides.  I think a good question for leaders to ask themselves is this:

"Do I want my organization to be more like a roller-coaster or more like a Gravitron?"

Roller coaster organizations and their leaders can use many types of straps, bars, and harnesses to keep their people and their patrons in place:

• Rigid contracts and rules
• Fear tactics
• Heavy surveillance
• Reliance on compensation and incentives

Gravitron organizations require few, if any harnesses.  People are held in place by:

• Purpose
• Alignment
• Trust
• Transparency
• Generosity
• Culture
• Friendship
• Vision

I think that given the choice, most people would choose to be in a Gravitronic organization and be led by a Gravitronic leader.  I think Jesus was a Gravitronic leader.  People wanted to be around him and wanted to be part of his world-changing movement.  Yes, there were those who despised him, and some who even betrayed Him.  But most who really knew Him, would have died for Him. They stayed committed to His movement that Friday even when it seemed like the bottom had dropped out.

photo credit: Caselet via photopin cc