Articulating an inspiring purpose statement is an important step in helping your purpose take hold. If done right, the purpose statement is known throughout the company and is foundational to the strategy. It is embedded in the DNA of the organization.
A stated purpose is a means to demonstrate your commitment to long-term value as well as short-term results. It sparks the innovation that will help you stay competitive in a rapidly changing marketplace. It ignites the passion in your people and engages your top talent, so they stay, grow, and thrive with you.
Yet purpose-driven organizations often struggle to translate their higher ambition aspirations into a concise purpose statement.
Read moreStarbucks shot into the headlines this past week following a Philadelphia store manager’s phone call to the police that led to the arrest of Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson for trespassing. The two African American men were waiting to order until the colleague they were meeting arrived. The video of their removal by the officers went viral on social media (as of this week it had been viewed 11 million times) and prompted near-immediate demonstrations and boycotts.
Today, mission and values are integral to the culture and brand of many organizations. Many companies rely on this as a differentiator – a reason customers should come to them instead of competitors. This inevitably opens the door to higher expectations and increased scrutiny. Starbucks is definitely one of these companies.
Read moreIn 2017 trust in America’s four key institutions: NGOs, business, government, and the media declined by 37%, the greatest collapse in the history of the Edelman Trust Index. Francis Fukuyama, in his seminal book, Trust: The Social Virtues and the Creation of Prosperity, demonstrates that social capital in any community or business is fueled by cultivating trust. When trust is in the room, people collaborate, give each other grace to make mistakes, and innovation springs forward.
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