How do you define your company foundation? The foundation consists of a clear vision, mission, and values. It’s easy to start a company without defining them, but hard to sustain long-term. Your company vision, mission, and values provide direction and create a filter for all your decisions. Decisions impacting development, hiring, marketing, partnerships, and service.
A strong team supports the mission and practices the values to achieve the vision. With team buy-in everyone is working together and headed in the same direction.
What is Vision?
The vision defines the long term impact of the business. What big problem are you solving in the industry or your community?
For my business, the vision is to be a resource for emerging leaders. Many managers are thrust into the role by promotion due to performance or by necessity in a small business. They lack the support needed to serve their teams and lead with excellence.
What is Mission?
The mission defines what your business is and how you will accomplish your goal to achieve your vision. A peer once said it can be defined with this simple formula “We do X, by Y to achieve Z.”
My mission is to empower emerging leaders through coaching and resources for process improvement to make a positive impact on those they serve. Their impact is a gift to others and a part of their legacy.
What are Values?
The values define the behavior your business takes to implement your mission and achieve your vision. The values are filters for the decisions you make and the actions you take.
My values:
- Celebrate the Small Things – gratitude, beauty in the ordinary
- Choose Love over Fear – seek to understand instead of defend, think big picture
- Connect the Dots – look outside the box, transfer ideas, plant seeds, reflect and refine
- Embrace Challenges – look for opportunities to grow, stay curious, friction refines
- Lead with Excellence – lead by example, show instead of tell, attention to detail
- Shine Bright – Don’t be afraid to be first, to light the way, to stand up, to shine
One of the biggest challenges for businesses is staying true to the vision, mission, and values. You can get distracted by flashy opportunities, partnerships, incentives, etc. Instead, use your values and mission as a filter, so you don’t go down the wrong path. Incorporate them into your company goals, performance, and team roles.
When I help leaders with coaching and planning sessions we always start with mission and values. Then align our actions to support the mission and values. This allows us to stay focused and intentional with our goals.
Brene Brown shares tips in her book Dare to Lead to you define your values.
PS. You also have permission to refine your mission and values as your business grows. Growth is part of the journey.
Your Turn
Share your company mission and values.
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