Which is most important – mission, core values, or vision?
I was reading another post by Michael Hyatt this morning, and it struck a cord with what we do at Dialect and why I wanted to start the company. Michael was asked a simple question in an interview: “Which is most important – mission, core values, or vision?”
Michael answered that they are all equally important and interconnected. They are distinguishable but inseparable. You can read the post here.
Then the comments came rolling in. One comment on Michael’s post says that he has heard that values are defined first. Another person was more animated about the need for values to come first.
In my experience, leaders start from many places. We’ve done work with companies were the leader sees purpose as being the glue for everything else. In other situations, we’ve had leaders emphasize shared values and the strategy. In other situations we’ve seen leaders who start with strategy and return later to what it will look like when they get there (vision) and what beliefs and behaviors will be necessary to accomplish it (values).
What do you start with at your company?
Start with Why
In his book, Start with Why, Simon Sinek challenges us to ask Why? Sinek has a background in marketing, and proposes that most people know what they do and how they do it. But if you ask them why they do it, they often don’t have an answer. Sinek wants to “inspire people to be inspired” by finding their why.
His thinking is simple, straightforward, and powerful. It resonates with my experience and from a personal perspective, it can be hard to keep the why in mind when dealing with the challenges of business and life.
We recently talked to a large company that has merged two divisions. The company leaders are asking the question, How are we better together? I believe their how is Simon’s why.
When is the last time you’ve really looked at your why?
