Exciting times

Way back in 2010, when I was Provincial Grand Mentor in Derbyshire, I wrote a Masonic talk called “Seven habits of highly successful Lodges.” Inspired by Stephen Covey’s “7 habits of highly effective people”, I did for Lodges what Covey had done for people. I observed the most successful – that is those which were strong, happy, healthy, thriving – and I documented what I thought were their key and common features.

The Seven Habits talk soon took off. It had a positive message and was well received. Lodges reported using the habits as a framework to regenerate their Lodges. The Square Magazine asked me to write an article and it was published in the March 2013 edition. Lewis Masonic then commissioned me to write a book.

Progress on the book was delayed, initially by my activities as Provincial Junior Grand Warden and Head of Communications for a charity festival in Derbyshire, and then by my work developing the Members’ Pathway. The pandemic gave me an opportunity to return to the book and I finished it earlier this year. Sir David Wootton, Deputy Grand Master of UGLE, kindly agreed to write the foreword.

The book describes the Seven Habits, and then goes much further. It includes a thorough analysis of membership trends and all the research into why people become Freemasons, and why they remain members of their Lodges or leave. It also examines the lifestyles, working life and mindsets of those we are seeking as candidates. It then outlines how we can update the management of our Lodges to suit the 21st century Freemason. Among other things, it addresses the management of change, culture, leadership and planning. Throughout it signposts elements in the Members’ Pathway, making it an ideal companion to that work.

You can buy a copy below or, if you want a digital copy, from Lewis Masonic here.

Please let me know how you get on with the Seven Habits. I would like to do a follow up book, about Lodges that have used the Seven Habits to revive their fortunes. It would be great to tell your story.