History isn’t just a nostalgic stroll down memory lane. Nor is it a slavish attachment to the way things were. As HBR authors John Seaman and George Smith tell us, history is a powerful leadership tool, helping to:
- remind of us who we are, why we’re together, and the grand prize toward which we are striving. “A shared history is a large part of what binds individuals into a community and imbues a group with a distinctive identity.”
- transform cultures that are no longer healthy. “Decision making improves when strategists take the time to understand why actions were taken and how assumptions become deeply rooted.”
- put tough times into context. Without the stories of the organization’s long-time obedience in the face of adversity, we convince ourselves that nobody’s seen the troubles we’re now seeing.
- heal rifts. Factions within organizations outlive the memories of what divided folks in the first place. After tracing old hurts to the root-causes, present day leaders can break free from hurts of the past.
So, let’s hear it for the old coot at the end of the table – that longtime board member who knows all the secrets, has lived the wars, and still has the passion to champion the institution, its mission, and its possibilities. They may not be a likely pick to chair the strategic planning committee, but it’s short-sighted to race into the future without pausing first to hear what the boardroom sage has to say about the past.
As you’ve likely heard said, “How can you know where you’re going if you don’t know where you’ve been?” Odds are good that the contours of your school’s future are visible in its past.
Reference: “Your Company’s History as a Leadership Tool” by John T. Seaman, Jr. and George David Smith in Harvard Business Review, December 2012.