The Untapped Potential of Mission, Vision and Values
The unsung poster child for lip-service is mission/vision/values (MVV). The three typically warrant a poster, sometimes a screensaver, or even an elevator wrap. These visuals of the guiding principles for an organization are a great place to start. If they are unknown, they are likely unlived.
What are they and how do you make the most of them? In the simplest form you might consider the vision as why the organization (or team) exists. The vision of the company is typically aspirational and speaks to the future. The mission is what you do or deliver. A mission statement clarifies the purpose of the company. The values are how you do what you do, who you are at the very core of the organization/team.
Great values are calls to action and therefore more powerful as verbs, or at the very least stated as an action. Example: If a value is non-judgment, the value might be stated as “We Hold Space Without Judgment” or “We communicate/listen without judgment.”
Why is this important? Here are the basic benefits of each. We challenge you to generate even more benefits related to your unique organization.
People
- MVV used in the hiring process helps assess for fit and establish alignment.
- Seek a commitment to your MVV during the application process.
- Weave questions as to how the candidate would uphold any aspect of M, V, or V during the interview process. Seek examples from the candidates past.
- Holding everyone accountable to the same standards requires well-defined MVV and the related behaviors that are expected.
- Conversations about opportunities/shortcomings are more powerful when tied to the organization’s MVV.
- Recognizing performance is more impactful when tied to MVV and connects your employee to purpose.
- Explaining a new initiative and/or change in connection with how it will serve the MVV of the organization opens the pathway to acceptance and understanding.
Product
- Allowing your MVV to be the filter for decisions regarding products or services keeps you aligned with purpose.
- Ensure the needs of your customers are tightly woven into such decisions.
- When deciding what to cut or delay, lean on your MVV for guidance.
Profit
- As the saying goes, “No money, no mission.” Well, the opposite is true too. Yes, your ability to serve more customers hinges on being profitable and expanding/investing as necessary. Serving your customers through your commitment to your values and making decisions based on your mission is what leads to profitability.
- Messaging how profitability serves the MVV of the organization is paramount to gaining alignment on difficult decisions.
Consider whether the mission, vision, and values of your organization are unsung or beacons guiding all that you do. Allow your actions to bring them to life, off the walls and into the hearts of all. Ask others what they did this past week that upheld the mission of the organization, or which value they exhibited with a colleague. Be the ambassador of the culture by untapping the potential of the MVV in all that you do. Make them who you are.
