Recently I received a question about a blog post I wrote entitled “7 Enemies of Organizational Health“. One of those “enemies” I listed as “structure”. The person’s question was, “Are you referring to micromanagement?” He went on to say that we need structure to prevent organizational chaos.

I answered, Well, yes and no.

Micromanagement is an impediment to organizational health, but really I simply meant structure. Let me attempt to explain.

I do agree we need some structure, but not for structure's sake—for progress' sake. And there is a difference.

I see it as similar to the concept of grace, freedom, and the law. We don’t need laws if we are bound by grace. Grace is actually a higher standard than the law. But, we have to have an established order in our world for progress because it is a wicked world and we could never get anything done without some sense of structure.

In an organizational sense, think about it, if we all did the right thing we wouldn’t need structure. But structure allows for progress. When structure becomes a problem, when it gets in the way (this is the kind of structure I was referring to in my post) is when a well-meaning structure impedes progress.

Consider this example:

Imagine a rule that says everyone has to be in the church office from 8 to 5. So, because I want to respect authority, I obey the structure and am dutifully at my desk from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The fact is, however, that I work best at 6 in the morning at Starbucks or my kitchen table. Sticking to the structure in this case would limit my ability to be at my best. At the same time, because I’m following the structure, I may not go on the emergency hospital visit at midnight. After all, office hours are over by then.

The bottom line is that structure should enhance not impede progress.

Structure should never get in the way of accomplishing what God plants in your heart to accomplish.

Do you agree?