There is powerful research that concludes that collaboration in fact yields results. James Surowiecki epic work, Wisdom of the Crowds, was groundbreaking in summarizing research that strongly supported the principle that “No one of us is smarter than all of us.”
One example in the book, that I found particularly useful in helping me understand the benefits achieved through collaboration, comes from the television game show, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, hosted by Regis Philbin.
During the show, contestants worked through trivia questions in their attempt to win $1,000,000. As a fun twist, if the contestant faced difficulty with answering a question, they had three options available. They were only allowed to use each option once, throughout their time on the show. The options included:
- 50-50 – The computer eliminates two of the incorrect answers, giving the contestant a fifty-fifty chance at the right response
- Phone-a-Friend – Prior to the show, contestants singled out someone they could call for help who they considered one of the smartest people they knew
- Poll the Audience – The studio audience would cast votes by computer
From the results* of the show, Surowiecki writes:
“Everything we think we know about intelligence suggests that the smart individual would offer the most help. And, in fact, the ‘experts’ did okay, offering the right answer – under pressure – almost 65% of the time. But they paled in comparison to the audiences. Those random crowds of people with nothing better to do on a weekday afternoon and sit in a TV studio picked the right answer 91% of the time…” (Wisdom of the Crowds, 2004, Page 4)
Tip 4: Collaboration is the glue of insightful leadership, shared-accountability, and results
What does this have to do with church budgeting? The show is just the fun example of the benfits of collaboration. But, collaborative budget processes and operational management does prove time and time again to yield results.
A budget that is developed by one or two people does nothing to build a broader spirit of shared accountability across the church. Many leaders feel they may lose control when they bring others into the budget process. However, management research proves that involvement by a team in financial matters, specifically people responsible for the finances of a particular area, will more likely lead to better results.
Why?
If someone is involved in the budget process, and they feel as if they have had the opportunity to offer feedback and input, they’re more likely to “own” and “buy-in” to what has been created. Without participation in the process, resentment builds and can ultimately lead staff to consciously, or unconsciously, undermine what has been created.
Collaboration paired with open communication is where the budget will help church managers achieve the greatest potential of their organization.
Read more tips from Church Finance 30/30 – 30 Tips in 30 Days!
*Note: Surowiecki admits that this experiment would not stand scientific scrutiny. However, other examples in the book, would, in fact, support such an inquiry.