Reinforce the Mission

Happy Friday,

Your organization's mission defines why it exists. Its values guide how it operates. Together, they foster organizational cohesion (think all oars rowing in the same direction), enabling teams to make decisions independently in pursuit of the same objective and operating from the same core principles. A lot of time and thought went into crafting both. Next to people, they could be your second most valuable asset.

But posting them on the wall and website doesn’t make them believable or impactful. Believability requires that company leaders (everyone with a title) consistently connect ‘why we work’ and ‘how we work’ to people's actual work. Seems obvious, but it doesn’t happen. Why? Because your leaders were never told to do it.

Without that guidance, leaders naturally communicate in the context of their own priorities, drawing no connection to the primary mission. Finance leaders emphasize revenue, HR leaders - compliance, IT leaders - systems, legal - risk, etc. Messages from titled leadership that ignore the organization's primary mission dilute it, and the de facto mission gradually becomes whatever leaders talk about and prioritize most. Utilization?

As a result, the inspiring mission that initially attracted talent fades, replaced by metrics that feel disconnected from meaningful impact. The cynics are handed their validation - it is indeed ‘all about the money’. No wonder engagement falls from a high of 99 when people join to 65 a year later.

A reductionist, first-principles view: Consistent reinforcement of the organization’s primary mission by all leaders is optimal. Anything less, e.g., messages that dilute, contradict, or compete with the mission, is counterproductive to achieving the mission.

Communications from leadership to staff carry weight. So it's prudent to require review and approval first, to ensure weighty communications properly acknowledge and reinforce the organization's mission and values. You wouldn't give every leader uncontrolled access to the company bank account. Likewise, no one should be free to access and influence the organization's most valuable asset, its people, without strict guidance and oversight.

Success is ultimately a function of how strongly people care. When all leaders reinforce the same mission and values, they can transform them into living principles that inspire, motivate, and deliver superior outcomes. Achieving the mission is why the organization exists. It's North Star. Everything the organization does can and should be framed as a means to that end.

Have a great weekend!

Dave

Feedback and blowback are always welcome: dave@goodnewsfriday.com

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