Staff Cohesion: PART 2 of 12 - How Shared Vision and Goals Impact Staff Cohesion

This week I am sharing with you the second of twelve key categories I believe are important in building unprecedented staff cohesion: Shared Vision and Goals.

Building a cohesive staff pivots on a shared vision and common goals, which ensure that each team member comprehends the organization's mission and their vital role in achieving it.

However, it's important to acknowledge that not every staff member automatically connects with the organization's mission. Some actively seek roles aligned with their values, while others may join out of financial necessity or remain indifferent.

As a result of these variances, it is equally important to support staff in finding or creating themselves in the organization's mission statement. This alignment fosters profound purpose and unity among the team and the organization as a whole.

To bridge this gap, organizations bear the responsibility of creating meaningful connections with each employee. Beyond articulating the mission's importance, organizations should proactively uncover how different facets of the mission personally resonate with each team member. This involves engaging actively and understanding diverse perspectives.

Managers and leaders should initiate conversations and even workshops, encouraging employees to express their thoughts and feelings about the current mission. They should also remain open-minded towards potentially shifting the mission statement in order to support the ever evolving representation of the organization. This insight helps tailor the mission's relevance to individual team members nit also develops personal accountability.

Furthermore, empowering employees to craft their own personal mission statements and developing an internal mission statement collaboratively within the team can't be overstated. This approach nurtures individual growth, reinforces unity, and magnifies the shared sense of purpose within the organization.

By integrating the mission into daily work experiences, like learning how specific tasks contribute to the mission, employees can discover a newfound sense of purpose, even those who were previously indifferent.

Open dialogue, active engagement, and tangible connections between daily work and the mission inspire a collective sense of purpose, ensuring every team member feels not just a part of the company but a vital contributor to its mission-driven success.

Empowering employees in crafting personal mission statements and developing an internal mission statement collaboratively further reinforces this unity and shared sense of purpose, ultimately driving the overall success of both individuals and the organization.

After reading this article in its entirety, I would love to hear from you:

• Do you feel strongly about your organization’s mission statement?

• How do you or could you see yourself in it?

• What is your personal mission statement for the work you do currently?

In solidarity and with love,

Misha Safran, PCC, MA

Leader and Organizational Trainer and Coach, Author, and Speaker