THE MISSION MISCONCEPTION

The misconception is that MISSION and purpose are the same thing.

The misconception is that VISION and MISSION are both long-term things

The misconception is that STRATEGY is driven by metrics

The misconception is that CULTURE eats STRATEGY

Let's address these misconceptions...

MISSION EVOLVES YOUR BUSINESS (AND YOU)

– Something to become.

We've been told that “culture eats strategy for breakfast” for decades. And it's true...if you do strategy the way we've always done strategy.

However, I would challenge that it doesn't have to be that way!

What if strategy was protected by culture. The way we look at strategy or strategic planning, which you could call our philosophy, is very simple. It is about evolving your business towards the vision.

Therefore, strategy must not only align with vision, but it should be guided by a MISSION (approx. every 3-years). ?Your MISSION is to become the business that will start to create the world you see. It is then guided by values and driven by purpose. You are basically wrapping your cultural arms around the strategy like an invincible shield. After all, a mother or father will do anything to protect their baby.

As we have alluded to in previous workbooks, too many strategies are built on how we can make money. Instead, strategy is all about the MISSION.

Financing and/or funding the mission is all a part of it; they are critical objectives within the strategy, but not outputs, not the end game. The fundamentals of strategy are to develop ongoing plans that must be accomplished to allow your business to become what it needs to BE (Mission), to create the world you see (Vision). That is, the business that remains relevant in the hearts and minds of the people you choose to serve.

“Strategic planning is worthless -- unless there is first a strategic vision.”

– John Naisbitt

Your vision of your world you want to create could be ten, twenty, or thirty years into the future. Your journey to becoming the business or organization to bring that world into reality will be an ongoing one, an evolving one. The more you build the organization you need to become (MISSION), the closer to that world you will get. Therefore, it makes sense to make sure your strategies continue to be aligned not to, but from mission.

“What is the aim or purpose of strategy? To improve our ability to shape and adapt to unfolding circumstances, so that we…can survive on our own terms.”

– John R. Boyd, USAF

However, in our uncertain world, asking people to plan or believe in a strategy for the next ten to twenty years will have their heads spinning and seem unrealistic to them. This is why we look at MISSION in 3-year horizons at a time.

With each evolution, you move closer to bringing your vision into reality. It’s about who your business needs to become to start to create the world you see, ?your vision! This is why #MISSIONEVOLVES.

“Leadership is an art. Management is a science. Strategy is the art of the leader. Tactics are the science of management.”

– a Clarism

Dave Clare - CEO & Founder, Circle Leadership

THE WEEKLY FERGASM

Mission: I’m Possible?

This morning I read an excerpt from Craig Harper’s book ‘Pull Your Finger Out’:?

… our beliefs (i.e. our habits of thinking) determine our results, and therefore out reality (i.e. our results).?

“We create what we believe.”?

Craig also went on to say how he has met many people who almost have a gift for talking themselves down:?

… people who would constantly default to their disempowering and self-limiting beliefs, thinking and expectations in order to rationalise, explain and accept mediocrity and failure in their world;??

“People who have wasted too much time and talent.”?

HARPER, C 2013, Pull Your Finger Out, Penguin Group, Australia PP215-216.?

And that really spoke to me.?

Do you know anyone like that??

I know I do.?

Is it possible that the person you know like that... is you??

*Uncomfortable shuffling around... KFC anyone?*?

And what if the things that seem ‘impossible’ in our lives are just a matter of perspective, a space and a little mark that looks like a smudge on the page??

Where the impossible gets to be not only possible, but probable, when we believe that:?

“I’m possible?”?

When our purpose, values and vision form the foundation for us to fundamentally know that we’re possible - it’s possible - EVERYTHING'S possible...?

… does self-belief precede the ultimate accomplishment of our mission???

Brant Garvey, Australian Paralympian and the first Australian above-knee amputee to complete an Ironman Triathlon and author of No XCuses.?

Lisa Ferguson, Leadership Coach at Circle Leadership

LIVESTREAM

A mission statement for a business should not be confused with the vision it has for the world.

We too often forget that who we are today, is producing today's results and built the business we have today. If we want to stay relevant into the future and create the world we see (VISION) then we must ask ourselves "Who do we need to become now to start to create that world we see?"

Just like in?#military ?terms, you set off on a mission, and develop the?#strategy ?and the?#tactics ?to execute it effectively. You complete that and then get the next mission. Rinse and repeat until the war is won.

These subsequent missions all cumulatively add up to achieving the?#vision . Essentially, missions are the series of evolutions of your business to bring your vision into reality.

This is what a mission statement should answer. What is the next evolution of our business?

On this live, we will be covering:

1) What mission is.

2) What a mission is for.

3) How to craft your mission.

How do companies get better? They identify what the next evolution of their business is and then figure out how to make that happen.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH

WEEKLY CLARISM

In uncertain times, here's what I know for sure...bad businesses will not exist. Good businesses will survive. Great businesses will evolve.

What's the next evolution of your business?

THE INNER-CIRCLE

Ideally, this #newsletter is for you. Yeah, we might share the odd humble brag, but its intent is to add value and inspire more purpose-driven leadership around the world. If you have a question on a relevant leadership, culture, or strategy topic, please ask and we will provide our insights.