John Diffey's Lesson

On Wednesday and Thursday of this week Kendal at Granville hosted John Diffey, the retiring President of Kendal Corporation. John played a signal role in the launching of Kendal at Granville, above all by spending half a year in the town over ten years ago to assist in ongoing conversations with political and civic leaders even while encouraging and assisting the group of local residents – the Gordons, the Hellers, the Richards, and others – who were enthusiastically spearheading the campaign to create a Kendal affiliate in central Ohio.

Kendal at Granville, in short, owes an enormous debt of gratitude to John Diffey, not only for his long-time leadership of the Kendal project, but also for his particular labors on behalf of our Granville home. And so, during this recent visit – first at a community reception, and then at a dinner and a board meeting – Kendal tried to let John know how grateful we all were. 

In response John reminded his Granville friends of the values that made Kendal a special sort of enterprise. He encapsulated these values in the handy mnemonic of the "four G's."

First there is GOODNESS. Many institutions, he noted, aspire to greatness. Kendal, however, aspires to goodness. And throughout the fabric of its life – in the conduct of its employees, the expectations for the residents it serves, its dealings with partners and other businesses – the goal of "being good" remains a central element in Kendal decision-making.

Second there is GOVERNANCE. John's point here is not simply that goodness arises from the actions taken by those who have responsibility for guiding the Kendal project, but rather that Kendal's structure of governance maximizes the autonomy of the individual affiliates, encourages experimentation in accordance with local circumstances, and facilitates the sharing of information and the swapping of ideas. The Kendal project rests on the principle of subsidiarity, which in turn is grounded in convictions about trust and optimism.

Third there is GROWTH. And here a quick word is in order to avoid misunderstanding. For although the Kendal project has in fact seen the steady and planned addition of new affiliates over the past four decades, John's point is not that Kendal thrives by expansion. Rather, it is that Kendal fosters and values the growth of the people who are associated with it. For residents, there is personal growth – the broadening (or perhaps deepening) of interests, the cultivating of friendships, the realizing of the opportunity to use this new stage of life to become fuller persons. But equally important, there is the chance for employees to grow. Kendal aims to be a model employer. It therefore supports and encourages plans by its employees to extend their educations and widen their professional competences.

Fourth there is GENEROSITY. The Kendal ethos inspires those associated with it to be generous in spirit, generous in time, generous in substance. Philanthropy is seen as an opportunity and a duty. 

When John completed this useful precis of Kendal's principles, he then related a story. On one recent occasion, when he had invoked the "four G's," a person in the audience suggested a fifth: GAIETY. And when we heard this tale, we could only agree. There is something about the spirit of Kendal that manages to confer happiness. Certainly not for everybody. Certainly not all the time. But nevertheless, palpably and broadly, participation in the Kendal project fosters gaiety.

I'm much inclined to think that in this encapsulization John has put the matter right. It seemed to me that he was saying that Kendal manages to elevate those whom it touches. That may sound a bit pompous or boastful, but it is also true and an achievement of immense importance. It was therefore appropriate that John Diffey, the outgoing leader of the Kendal project, be the person to remind us of the truth. It was his parting gift to us.