Practical Ways to Reenforce Mission, Vision and Culture in a WFH World
I took that picture of the North Star just after midnight in Fruita, CO—a vivid reminder of how ancient travelers relied on this guiding light to navigate to distant destinations. More recently, I had the chance to work with two top leaders in their industries. Although our initial discussions on growth focused on structure, strategy, and metrics, we quickly shifted to the company’s North Star—mission, vision, and culture. We spent most of our time on these core principles, which I believe are essential for long-term success.
Mission defines your organization’s purpose—why you exist and the work you do. A strong mission inspires your team, aligns efforts, and ensures everyone is moving in the same direction. (Example: Publix’s mission “to be the premier quality food retailer in the world.”)
Vision is the outcome of your efforts. It paints a picture of where you’re headed and what success looks like in the future. A compelling vision motivates your team and provides a roadmap for growth. (Example: SpaceX’s vision “to make life multi-planetary.”)
Culture is the heartbeat of your organization. It reflects your values, shapes your work environment, and influences interactions. A healthy culture fosters collaboration, innovation, and resilience, enabling you to celebrate successes and weather challenges.
As leaders, it’s our responsibility to reinforce and align these elements, ensuring they remain central to everything we do. By doing so, we create not just a successful business, but a lasting legacy.
How to Reinforce Culture in a Work-From-Home World:
Regular Virtual Team Meetings: Hold regular video meetings to discuss team members’ feelings and challenges, and celebrate wins.
Virtual Social Events: Organize virtual coffee breaks, happy hours, or lunch sessions for personal connections. Using Kahoot! is a great way to drive engagement—DM me for details. Also, keep an open Zoom channel for drop-ins.
Regular Updates: Share updates on goals, progress, and changes through newsletters, video messages, or town halls. Use these updates to reinforce core values.
Support Flexibility: Offer flexibility in schedules to acknowledge remote work challenges and demonstrate a commitment to work-life balance.
Leverage Technology: Use platforms like Slack or Microsoft Teams for regular interactions, creating channels for work-related and casual conversations.
Lead by Example: Leaders should model behaviors that reflect the company’s culture. Share recorded updates occasionally to maintain active engagement and reinforce cultural values.
