Dumb Moments & Responsible Leadership

The team at Business 2.0 released in their latest issue the 101 Dumbest Moments in Business. One of those winners was H&R Block. Here's a cut-n-paste from their web link (see more, here).

Winner, Dumbest Moment, Accounting
The irony is rich. Shareholders, alas, are not.

In June, H&R Block announces a review of its recent financial statements, estimating it will find discrepancies in its favor of about $19 million. Two months later it reveals that the review found $77 million in errors -- in the other direction. The company explains that it had "insufficient resources" to identify and report complex transactions in its corporate tax accounting.

From a marketing standpoint this reminder of an '05 goof just can't be good publicity at tax time. Money, revenue, accounting... that's their biz. This kind of report really sucks. Stink for the Block people.

From a church leadership standpoint - it raises a few questions again about data, measurements, numbers and reporting.

• If next steps toward Christ are important, are they being measured?
• How are they being measured?
• Are they reportable?
• If the local church is celebrating a "win", is there verifiable information to support the "win"?
• Are people attending "activities" or are they engaging in life-enhancing, life-changing steps?
• Are people giving something or are believers tithing?
• Is the local church managing resources and data in such a way that our people invest in the cause of Christ with great confidence and enthusiasm?

When dumb moments happen within another organization, it's easy for me to shake my head and laugh. If dumb moments happen within the church, I can only shake my head.