Last week I wrote that “Leaders Shouldn’t Be Silent” in light of today’s realities, and that as the leader, it is your responsibility to reach out. This may be much easier said than done depending on the sensitivity of the subject.
Several of you asked for suggestions on beginning and structuring these discussions. So here you go:
Use your organization’s Mission and Values to open the discussion and guide its direction. Then listen…..
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Mission – your organization’s purpose for doing what it does. It is “why” you and your team go to work everyday.
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Remind everyone why you are in business…why your company does what it does.
Are you a college? Then your Mission may be to educate students to enter the global workforce. Are you a bank? Then your Mission may be to strengthen your community by helping clients realize their financial dreams.
There is a purpose for your organization’s existence, and it is much more than “for making money”. You provide a product or services which benefits others. Having a common Mission aligns everyone in the organization and gets everyone “rowing in the same direction”.
Referencing the Mission reminds your team members of their purpose, of their importance to fellow workers, to the company and to the community.
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Values – behaviors and fundamental beliefs for your organization. These are the guiding principles which dictate behaviors and decisions.
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Times like these are EXACTLY why your Values are so important. Properly written and modeled, your Values will help you navigate decisions during uncertainty. Stick to your Values, in other words make decisions and behave in alignment with those Values, and you will be okay. Remind your team members of your organization’s Values and how they apply during times like these.
If you haven’t regularly referenced and driven your company’s Mission or Values, then it will be difficult to “whip these out” now and be taken seriously. You can, however, undertake this effort as part of a very meaningful teambuildig exercise. And it really doesn’t take that long. Call if you would like assistance.