What Defines You?

Last week I experienced an interesting, and thought-provoking, moment. I was at a retreat for the University of Denver Accelerated Leadership Experience, and among many valuable ones - one exercise struck me a bit more than others.

But first...

A couple of years ago, as a solo marketer at my company, I wrote down my tenets. I wrote down my value, my purpose, and my vision - albeit perhaps not so neatly defined - and I shared this with our executive leadership team, at Motili.

WHY DOES ANY OF THIS MATTER?

Defining my value, purpose, and vision - as the head of marketing - helped me understand what it is I need to do now and next, and it created a *shared mind* across our leadership team with regard to my role in it and the organization.

When I hired each new member of my team, over the course of the last two years, I used my tenets to clearly explain what it is that I would like us to do - as a team.

But... last week I came to an epiphany.

I now have a *team*, but they are following *my* values, *my* goals, and *my* vision!

Today that changed, as I walked my team through the exercise of defining these tenets for us.

DEFINING PURPOSE, VALUES, and VISION - AS A TEAM

At Motili we talk a lot about working toward common goals, and sharing our vision, but when that vision isn't shared by everyone, the team has little buy-in in the collective purpose, values, and vision.

When buy-in is strong, team engagement and momentum is strong. When we agree on *why* it is what we do, *why* we do it, and *why* what we do every day builds value - we build a garden where we grow and create beautiful things.

As the team worked through this exercise I felt brains wrinkle, thoughts firing, the team lively and engaged - I could feel their energy talking through these topics.

We started off brainstorming key words, and phrases, for each category. Once we had a fairly detailed and defined list I asked *them* to define the three most relevant key words and phrases for each category.

By doing so, my goal was to have the team work together, without me providing the answers, but rather asking the questions and empowering my team to develop our purpose, values and vision together.

I left the room, giving the team just a bit less time than I would have thought it would take them to complete this exercise together.

When the time was up, I returned and the team presented me with their results.

DRUMROLL PLEASE - MOTILI MARKETING PURPOSE, VALUES, and VISION

PURPOSE

Why do we exist and do what we do?

• To communicate
• To empower
• To grow

VALUES

Internal - what values do we embrace as a team and how do they align with company values?

• Consistency
• Authenticity
• Accountability

External - what value do we bring to the organization? What impact do we have on the organization? On each other?

• Create presence
• Help people
• Build brand value

VISION

What do we want this team to be and how do we get there? Aspirational goals

• Push boundaries
• Express creativity
• Improve lives

TEAM FEEDBACK ABOUT THIS HOUR-LONG EXERCISE

"It was fun."

"It was great to work as a team on this."

"It was challenging to narrow down our definitions into overarching themes."

"Feels good to have worked on this as a team."

TAKEAWAY

This experience was a first for me - to question how what I wrote aligns with the vision of my team. I realized that purpose, values, and vision are not static - they evolve and pivot as a team grows.

Shared mind and a clear and concise team alignment on central tenets is critical in building an engaged team.

Even though we often work together, we don't always "work together" - and by getting my team out of their chairs and into a room to work on a timed task proved to be a valuable experience for us all.

To Shellee, Dillon, and Lindsey - thank you for being my victims in this experiment, for always striving for more, for showing up every day in a big way, and for making my job and life easier. I appreciate you.