Clayton Christensen - Religious Intellect

Clayton M. Christensen – Religious Intellect

At a time where religion is such a hot topic, whether in politics or school, Clayton Christensen demonstrates how to have “dialogic neutrality” while arming his audience with his fundamental moral rationale or in other words the basis of his beliefs. He shares his views on business and life and has inspired a very big audience of all different faiths and beliefs, however, he does this in a non-demeaning and not in an “in your face” way. People know him to be a great teacher and a religious man, however they hear him using dialogue that they understand and are inspired by no matter their religion or faith.

Currently battling cancer and having gone through a stroke, Clayton Christensen’s optimism still reigns supreme and his view on life and the foundation that his religion sets no doubt emanates through hearing his perspective on an interview with Charlie Rose. Not trying to just teach, but to learn from everyone, including his students, Clayton Christensen has a perspective that challenges the traditional “I know this and you need to listen” stigma that comes from some preachers or believers of religion, especially a religion which calls you to bring others to it. During the interview, Clayton Christensen states that “If you never ask the right questions, you will never get the right answer [and]…so many teachers decided that the way we perform is by telling them [students] the questions and wanting to get the right answer, but if they don’t know how to define the question, they will never get the answer.” The way he projects his intellect is easy for those listening to absorb the immense intellect that could be hard to bear or understand.

Who is Clayton Christensen?

Born in Salt Lake City, Utah and getting an MBA with highest distinction and a DBA at the Harvard Business School, Clayton M. Christensen currently is the Robert and Jane Cizik Professor of Business Administration at the Harvard Business School, with a joint appointment in the Technology and Management and General Management faculty groups. He serves on the board of directors of major corporations and is a bestselling author of five books. One of his early books, The Innovators Dilemma (1997) received the Global Business Book Award for the best business book of the year. He is an expert in innovation.

Can an idea lead?

Innosight is a company whose “foundation is the concept of disruptive innovation first identified and analyzed by Clayton Christensen in 1997.Thought leadership - we thrive at the intersection where thought leadership connects with market impact through practical techniques and hands-on collaboration.” Thought leadership is a concept I never really thought about until I learned about Clayton Christensen. As I observe Clayton Christensen’s mode of using his intellect, I see a type of leadership doesn’t involve a direct “do this or that,” but more of leading someone to think for themselves and understand the purpose of actions or reasons behind what drives the business and/or person. So in more simple terms, thought leadership, as I see it, leads one to think for oneself. This, again, counters the stigma that can exist with religious intellects.

The question then becomes, does his religion influence that mode of thinking. Can you really separate the man from his religion, no matter how hard we try? Can we separate the man from what he has grown up hearing or from a conviction of revelation that he has received? I would confidently say no.

The Basis of His Beliefs

As I grow to understand the basis of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormonism), I learn that the importance of growth, personal testimony, and the view that each person is a child of God is a fundamental belief. This view on the human being as a child of the Divine makes one believe that their potential is limitless, although not to be perfected in this life, there is still room and encouragement to grow both intellectually and spiritually in faith, hope and a pure love. This basis, in my opinion serves as a base in which Clayton Christensen teaches and views the world. In order to have the faith in humans to learn themselves through thought leadership the way described, one must believe that it is important to both grow internally and do so on the basis of a personal conviction.

Why should I listen?

Do not be scared to listen to him because he is a Mormon or because your natural instincts are afraid that you may be brainwashed as so many fear through listening to religious intellects. The very fact that he speaks in a free, open way allows one to take their beliefs and see their life through their own viewpoints. Many people, “believers and not,” have benefitted through the wisdom of this wonderful man.

How Will You Measure Your Life?

There is a great example of the way he teaches spoken of in an article Clayton Christensen wrote for the Harvard Business Review called “How Will You Measure Your Life?” I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU READ IT! He states:

When people ask what I think they should do, I rarely answer their question directly. Instead, I run the question aloud through one of my models. I’ll describe how the process in the model worked its way through an industry quite different from their own. And then, more often than not, they’ll say, “OK, I get it.” And they’ll answer their own question more insightfully than I could have.

Stigma of religion

While there are many that use religion to inappropriately judge someone or to put a ceiling on someone, Clayton Christensen uses his foundation to bring out the best in others while allowing them to come to their own answers. Such “testimony” serves as a true foundation rather than just listening to and believes directly from someone else. Having knowledge and understanding yourself is important and I appreciate his ability to influence and the way he does it.

Clayton’s 3 Questions

First, how can I be sure that I’ll be happy in my career? Second, how can I be sure that my relationships with my spouse and my family become an enduring source of happiness? Third, how can I be sure I’ll stay out of jail?

His religion sets the tone for family relationships and their importance, limitless potential, and a clean pure life. Although his religion sets the tone, these are strategies everyone can use to benefit their life.

Basic – Happiness, family, and integrity.

Happiness - is it a bad thing? I think it would be safe to say that almost EVERYONE would say no. The reason I ask this question is to show that Clayton’s way of speaking is as Peter Beinart of the New Republic would call common language that can persuade people or as stated earlier from the blog of Stephen Mack, “dialogic neutrality.” I think it would be safe to assume that many would be hesitant to hear about how to better their life from a Mormon.

Clayton Christensen answers the first question of happiness from Fredrick Herzberg theory based on growth, contribution, and recognized for his achievements. If this is the basis for happiness in his book, he must be a very happy man. Influencing people, being recognized in one of the most respected books and his insight wanted by the top corporations, and having a great family.


Christensen Family

Knowing his audiences were mainly business students and professionals, Clayton describes family life in a marvelous way using a parable comparing family to business. The parallel of business falling short because they only think short term and not thinking that they are going to start this business just for it to fail is the same as the union we call marriage. He elaborates:

When people who have a high need for achievement—and that includes all Harvard Business School graduates—have an extra half hour of time or an extra ounce of energy, they’ll unconsciously allocate it to activities that yield the most tangible accomplishments. And our careers provide the most concrete evidence that we’re moving forward. You ship a product, finish a design, complete a presentation, close a sale, teach a class, publish a paper, get paid, get promoted. In contrast, investing time and energy in your relationship with your spouse and children typically doesn’t offer that same immediate sense of achievement. Kids misbehave every day. It’s really not until 20 years down the road that you can put your hands on your hips and say, “I raised a good son or a good daughter.” You can neglect your relationship with your spouse, and on a day-to-day basis, it doesn’t seem as if things are deteriorating. People who are driven to excel have this unconscious propensity to underinvest in their families and overinvest in their careers—even though intimate and loving relationships with their families are the most powerful and enduring source of happiness.

I do not know his family, but I have spoken with his son who is a great individual
and from what I know, they have a beautiful relationship. On his HBS website, he gives comments on his health. At the very end, his optimism and gratitude is directly correlated to his family life as he writes, “This has been a sobering experience, but my wonderful wife, Christine, our five children, and I feel very blessed overall. We are confidently optimistic that all will be well, and are deeply grateful for your support, prayers, and faith.”

Integrity – Have it whether there is a God or not.

"Live a good life. If there are gods and they are just, then they will not care how devout you have been, but will welcome you based on the virtues you have lived by. If there are gods, but unjust, then you should not want to worship them. If there are no gods, then you will be gone, but will have lived a noble life that will live on in the memories of your loved ones."
— Marcus Aurelius

Religious or not, integrity is almost universally commendable although most religions teach a form of integrity and good works/love.

Leadership Lessons

Developing your own type of leadership is important. Not having the “Sunday School” answers, but having an answer that you have formulated, thought about, prayed about, or whatever thought or spiritual process you need to have. Once you have done that, you can genuinely “innovate” yourself and inspire others to “innovate” as Clayton Christensen has. Innovating is no more than taking something that already is and making it better.

Will I be influenced by my beliefs, religious foundation, and the millions of experiences I have had since I was a child? Of course. But I hope to accomplish the same things that Clayton Christensen is accomplishing, but do it in my own way just as I believe everyone should do. Nowhere does Clayton Christensen say, this is what my religion believes so “you should do this or do that.” He simply gives his theories and allows the person to look inward. That is intellect creating intellect.

Stephen Mack says it best in his blog “The New Democratic Review:”

For those, like Peter Beinart, who are concerned about the use of religious rhetoric in democratic debate, a more important challenge would center on how religion is being used, not whether it is used... Just as enlightened religious thinkers have used the terms of their faith to build a sense of a larger American community, it has also been used to insulate particular Americans within the cultural walls of more narrow communities.

To me, it comes down to how it is viewed and communicated. A good public intellectual speaks to those reading and what better way to speak to them, than with their own voice.