An organization’s purpose is its lifeblood, it guides the actions of its members and makes them feel like they are part of something greater than just a job. But figuring out what your organization’s purpose is, how to implement and maintain it is challenging. Here I offer three reasons why your company’s mission, vision and executed values (a.k.a. purpose) are paramount to make sure that culture is fully developed within the organization.
1) It gives members direction. If the organization is successful, it will most likely evolve its purpose as it matures and serves more customers. As an organization grows and expands into a larger company, the culture must adapt. In some cases, the new purpose evolves or created. Other times it could be a product or service that requires a different operational structure or market approach to reach customers. The success of the company depends on its ability to adapt to its changing culture and purpose.
2) It offers solutions to problems. In some cases, the purpose of the company is at odds with its culture. Examples of this are cases where companies mandate that their employees work overtime without compensation, or when a company hires contractors to do the same work as full-time employee. When dissonance arises, review company decisions and whether aligned with its purpose.
3. Allows organizations to adjust to our Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous environment. As a company operates in our current business environment, its executives must try to anticipate challenges, engage team members and develop plans, in alignment with purpose, to overcome them. Thousands of examples occurred during all the fun we enjoyed because of the pandemic.
The soul of any successful organization It’s not just a cliché – the soul is really there. It inspires its employees, guides their actions, gives them focus and purpose. And it gives customers the confidence that the company has their best interests at heart. A soulful culture is embodied in values that are lived by every employee and leader in the organization.
Does your organization relate its strategies and decisions back to its purpose?
