Clearplan Consulting - Writings - Do you have a Shepherd in your Flock?

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Do you have a Shepherd in your Flock?
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17 Ways to Be Positive Through Challenging Times
Focus on the Road Ahead so you Don't Roll Over the Cliff
7 Ways to Improve Customer Relations
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What Are we Talking About Here?!!

Do You Have a Shepherd in Your Flock?

It's a cloudy and misty day in the hills of Scotland. The sheep are grazing lazily all over the place - some are on the rocks, a few have made their way down by the lake, a large flock have found a group of large trees to hide behind and a couple are just standing out in the open doing nothing at all. Where's their shepherd?

Isn't the shepherd supposed to be keeping the sheep together in one area, managing their eating locations and time so that he can get them back to the farm before dark? Doesn't the shepherd treat the flock as if they were his own children (although the sheep are dumber). The shepherd is missing so the sheep are going wherever they choose without direction, without timing and without care. Who will tell the owner that his sheep are lost, tired, missing, hungry and who will guide them back home?

The sheep are a lot like most employees in small, medium and large companies. They roam around looking for projects (food) and tasks that will edify them as valuable employees, but they get lost, tired, missing in action and hungry for new challenges. Who is there to guide them? Their supervisors? Managers? Human Resources? The CEO (owner)?

In most cases everyone involved in the company is running around trying to put out fires and keep themselves from going to the butcher. Everyone gets assigned to a project, program or team/task group with high powered requirements that keep them looking and feeling busy. Who is around to "Shepherd" them back home when they get lost and need help? Who will ask them if they're doing OK or just need some assistance to get jump started? Who will lead them to clear success in a mentoring and guiding way? The Shepherd…

The Shepherd role needs to be a permanent position in any organization of 100 plus employees and would provide the respected eyes and ears of the leader, along with constant and sincere guidance to all at all levels of the flock. This role would keep from getting "resourced" to any particular project or program and would constantly be building relationships and trust at every level of the company. The employees would then provide honest and valuable feedback on any issue that arises which the Shepherd would translate back to the CEO and decision making team.

The Shepherd would also map out the realistic organizational flow of efforts and information that would show the inner workings and help to define any cracks, crevices or craters in the organization. This guiding and nurturing role would provide a consistent and living feedback weave throughout the company, creating a synergy that is rarely seen in larger groups. The fact that the Shepherd would not be tied to any projects would allow him/her to keep the 30,000 foot view of all that is happening.

To fill this role in your organization, you can utilize a consultant to either setup the structure and help find the right individual to fill it or fill the role themselves on an as needed basis. Either way, a business consultant, or shepherd,can greatly improve the vision and synergy in your flock.