Showing Is Better Than Saying

In many organizations, the mission, vision and value statements hang silently on the walls. People glance at them once in a while but it doesn't really mean much to them. What's even worst is that so many organizations say something in their mission, vision and values but their actions are diametrically and visibly opposite to their words.

On surface, such a misalignment does not seem to mean much but people observe or at least sense the mismatch. Overtime, this mismatch causes feelings of distrust. When what is being said by the leader lacks a real follow through, confidence plummets.

So what to do? Throw out those mission, vision, and value statements? No! Instead, do the following:

1. Hold a two hour meeting with the executive team and each person asks the following questions:

   A. Who are we as we see ourselves?

   B. What makes us unique in the marketplace?

   C. What do we do on a daily basis?

   D. What is it that we want to accomplish in the grand scheme of things?

   E. What behaviors or principles do we value as important for effective and smooth functioning of our company?

2. From the collection of the answers by each team member, come up with the new Mission, Vision and Behavior statements.

3. Publish the new statements to your people. Teach them what these statements mean. Put them on the walls and bring them up in every meeting, every announcement.

4. Recommit to the statements every week, month, quarter, year.

5. Filter every decision, every policy through these statements.

Now, not all organizations battle with such mismatch. A fine example is - The First National Bank, in pulaski, TN. When I met the manager, Tracy Griggs, he bragged on how the bank takes care of the team members. He recited when one of the retired team members passed away, the bank blessed the family with some financial support.

That action is true to the statement you will find on their website, which is -

We bring a deeper meaning to the term "community banking"

Isn't it lovely that they do not just extend that community aspect to the customers but also the workers who give hours, months, and decades of their lives to help the organization beocme successful and great.