While metrics can be indicative of whether or not systems and methods are working, they typically don’t give the best snapshot of the health of an organization’s culture.
It’s the mission statement, vision, and strategy of an organization that all work together to determine its purpose and direction. A thriving culture is created with the same level of care and intentionality. Below are four values that, if embraced by an organization’s leadership, can help team members thrive while contributing to sustainable success.
Innovation: There is a fine line between honoring tradition and being stuck in antiquated practices.
History and traditions can inform us about where we have been and the events, both positive and negative, that led us to where we are today. Over time, the methods we use in bringing our mission to life must adjust to shifting cultural and developmental norms. However, organizations and individuals alike can become attached to now-underperforming methods because of comfort or the age-old excuse of “it’s how we’ve always done things.”
Dynamic leaders and organizations have an underlying value of innovation to improve processes, reach an ever-changing market, and keep employees engaged and invested. This isn’t simply a matter of relevance; it’s the recognition that submitting to the same methods will only yield the quality of results that have already been experienced. It’s important to embrace the temporary discomfort of necessary endings in order to take strides toward a preferred future.
To put it plainly, organizations that refuse to innovate have expiration dates.
The Power of “No”: Staying laser-focused on your mission.
As we reinforce the value of innovation, we will begin to see a wave of new ideas, opportunities, and initiatives begin to surface. As exciting and refreshing as this may be, it brings to light another challenge: knowing which opportunity is the right one to pursue.
- Are they in alignment with our overall mission and direction?
- Which opportunity will yield the best results (in both value and measurables)?
- Which opportunity will advance our mission the furthest and fastest?
While it can be easy to say no to stale or poorly-conceived ideas, it can be especially difficult to determine the best path forward when each path is in the right direction. Because of this, we can find ourselves green-lighting a bunch of good things that may ultimately prevent us from having the resources to do the best thing for our organization.
Fun: Loving where you work.
One of the greatest gifts of working for faith or values-based organizations is contributing to a powerful impact in the lives of others. Leaders, especially younger leaders, want to love what they do, but, at the same time, it is just as important for them to love where they work.
