No matter the organization you choose to analyze, there’s an understanding every one doesn’t see all the stuff. There are things not seen or known by the public and, often, not the majority of those engaged in the organization (staff, volunteers, etc.). Some call it seeing behind the curtain.

Others refer to as organizational politics. I’m not a fan of that label, but it’s understandable why people use it. And therein lies what we’re really analyzing-people.

The stuff behind the curtain is actually the actions/interactions of organizational leaders. How do they get along? How do they manage themselves? Is there a mirror anywhere, and who’s responsible for its use?

It seems healthy, thriving organizations care about what’s behind the curtain as much as, if not more than, the other side. A couple of weeks ago in watching a young organization I wondered to myself what it would take for it to be one of those organizations for the long haul-an organization whose public persona matches what’s behind the curtain.

I invited my friend Mark Stanifer to join the wondering by sending this question: What questions must be answered in order for what’s behind your organization’s curtain to match your public persona? The result is a blog series that we’ve co-authored.

Mark’s contributions focus on questions for leaders; mine focus on questions for the leadership team.

Keep watch for Mark’s first post.

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash