Keep Your Vision, Values, and Mission In Front Of You

I sat in a meeting that was becoming heated over the direction the organization was going. I wasn't in charge, in fact, I was only there as a requirement of my position. The debate was going nowhere and I was squirming due to the lack of leadership being taken in the discussion.

At one point, I finally broke into the fray and made this statement:

"I believe this group is at a crossroads and won't be able to come to a reasonable decision because this organization is ill-defined."

The obvious quiet that followed showed me that I hit a nerve and that I had now put many of them on the defensive. One of the key members of the group turned to me and asked, "What do you mean by ill-defined?"

I replied, "There is no corporate sense among you that you know what it is you are striving for, trying to achieve, what this organization actually stands for?"

I was in it now. No turning back. We went back and forth. He wanted to solve the immediate problem and I wanted the group to consider solving the problem in light of the Big Picture. What was the guiding, consistent direction that the group should adhere to in not only this decision, but in every decision?

Finally, he said this: "You know, we already have a mission statement."

To which I replied, "What is it?"

He began to fumble through his 3 inch notebook full of papers, notes, minutes, etc. Finally, he turned back to me and said, "I can't find it right now. Do you expect us to go through the whole process of creating one again?"

At that point I left the question hanging and remained silent for the rest of the meeting. It was apparent to me (and to others) that I didn't have to answer it. While the group had a mission statement, had adopted a vision, and had compiled a set of governing values - they weren't using them.

They had fallen into the difficult position of keeping their vision, values, and mission BEHIND them instead of in FRONT of them.

I don't mean they need to keep those ideas, dreams, and concepts on pieces of paper physically in front of them (although that appeared to be necessary). I wanted them to keep those things in front of where the group was headed.

To keep it in FRONT of them meant:
+ They strived to accomplish them.
+ They framed every decision, every discussion by them.
+ They guided the group as a whole.
+ They were the focus and not merely an exercise that ended up in the back of a notebook.
+ They were constantly referred to.
+ They were known (well known) by every member of the group.

I mentioned that there was a lack of leadership in the discussion above. The main reason I felt that way was because the leader of the group had allowed the vision, values, and mission of the group to merely become an exercise that was quickly forgotten. This person didn't do the thing that leaders have to do - keep the vision, values, and mission of the organization in FRONT. That's why they are called guiding principles.

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: Do you know what your organization's vision, values, and mission are? Are they in FRONT or BEHIND you?

SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT: How do you keep these things in FRONT of your team?

: : : :

Tim Milburn
Student Leadership Consultant & Speaker
www.studentlinc.net

Comments

[Sandra]

Tim, I have experienced and observed more than once that visions are behind where CEOs, leaders or top management representatives refuse to live up to the goals and principles they claim themselves. For me that kind of "top-down" turns mission statements into... well, just words.

This might be a reason that many people even forget the words. One example that is pretty common here is: preach water, drink wine. Or: people read in the newspaper about tremendous future changes within their own company. In my perception visions and missions are about same eyelevel. That does not fit in with the need to demonstrate power. Lack of inhouse communication does not fit in with visions and missions either.

Pete ;-) whenever I read you, you make me smile. (Good that you remember at least to have got one, remember the ginko!?)

[tim]

@Nick - Thanks for pointing out how easy it is to fall into this situation in other areas as well. Do you think it's a matter of follow-through?

@Pete - Appreciate the note. Good luck in finding your mission statement. :)

[Nick McCormick]

Tim,
Unfortunately, I don't think there are many organizations that actually keep their mission in front of them. It's kind of like planning. There aren't many people that like to do it. Why? Because it's not easy. People would rather fly by the seat of their pants than be constrained by some silly mission statement. Organizations pay dearly.

[Pete Aldin]

Nicely done Tim. Powerful stuff.

As for my mission statement ... er, I know I wrote it down somewhere. Where's that sheet of paper?