There are a lot of times when we over-value tactics—the specific individual ways in which we get something done. The church must meet in a house. We must use this curriculum. We must tell the stories of the Bible in this way. We must do x, we must not do y.
Tactics are less important than the overall strategy, which in turn is less important than our vision and our values. Tactics are the most easily changeable things of all time.
For example, consider the tactic of distributing Bibles house to house, or via a bookstore. What happens if significant persecution comes to the land? If you are tied irrevocably to a bookstore or a house-to-house distribution system—if your tactic cannot change—then you would no longer be able to distribute Bibles.
When we argue about the right or wrong of a strategy, or a vision, or a value—are we really arguing about tactics?
Swarmish organizations ideally give a range of tactics and behaviors and say, “Pick one. Or two. Or more. And do them. Or do something else that is in line with the vision and values.” Don’t get hung up on arguments about tactics.
If you’re going to argue about something, argue about something important—like the vision and values that drive everything. That’s worth arguing about, or better yet, arguing for.
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