#30 What is an Organization?

An organization is defined as a social unit of people, structured and managed to meet a need or pursue collective goals.  The word organization itself comes from the Greek word "organ" -- which means a compartment for a particular job.  Thus an organization is made up of people, divided into divisions (compartments) to do a particular job which contributes to the collective goals of that entity.

Each organization takes on an energy of its own.  That energy comes from the leadership and the vitality of the individuals that make up each one of those divisions.  If employees are engaged in their work, and if they are allowed to speak up and contribute, they show up awake and alive each day.  They are vested in new ideas and outcomes -- this energy makes an organization a living, breathing entity -- it becomes alive.  It has a "soul" and it takes on a a creed -- words and actions that all those working for the organization recognize and live by.  But for this to happen, each department must be fully functional and pulling its share of  the load.  If there is a weak link in the system, the entity suffers.

Wow, doesn't this sound similar to our human body?  We have many vital organs that are all working to support our entire body.  Each organ has a distinct function and role, but all are interdependent upon one another.  Organs all must be working in perfect harmony, and receive good nutrition, exercise and positive thoughts in order to remain healthy.  If this does not happen, one organ may begin to fail and thus the whole body becomes unhealthy.

The same applies to an organization.  If leaders tell lies and only provide support and nourishment (recognition or compensation) to a  particular division or person(s), the rest of the organization starts to become dysfunctional -- divisions are no longer working in sync.  When that happens, employees become disheartened, the energy and enthusiasm is lost -- its "soul" and creed begin to crumble.   The organization is in trouble and begins to fail.

Our governmental organizations are failing -- they are not working in harmony toward collective goals.  All of us are paying their salaries and must insist through our words, actions and votes that honest leaders and talented employees are hired to revitalize our important governmental functions.  This issue is too important to ignore!