What do you get paid to do?

I find that the simplest approach is often the best. 

Unfortunately, simplicity doesn’t mean easy. 

We focus on company vision, mission and values in our work at FiveFour. We do that because without a clear vision — one that is sufficiently ambitious and memorable — companies lack purpose.  

Without purpose, employees aren’t engaged. 

And without engaged employees, success is a huge challenge. 

That is doctrine in our philosophy. 

Business leaders almost always have a purpose. It’s the reason the business was started in the first place. What we find, however, is that they rarely express that vision to the rest of the company.  

It may seem too lofty or sentimental. Maybe it feels too personal. For whatever reason, it often stays stuck inside their head. 

That’s too bad.  

Company purpose is one of the key elements of employee engagement. People want to share in that mission, they want to be part of something. 

I ran across this exercise recently in a piece by the Gallup organization called “Why Your Company Should be Mission Driven.” The article was written a few years ago but, like most foundational truths of business, remains applicable today.  

Here’s the strategy: Ask your leadership team, “What do you get paid to do?” Listen for statements that reflect mission in their answers. 

Now, I immediately thought, that’s a little dicey. It could easily come off as “What am I paying you for?” There is something to be said for delivery, after all. 

But in the context of a discussion about vision, mission and values of a company, it’s revealing. 

If you’re a CEO or owner of a company, what do you want the answers to be? 

If you’re a manager, what would you say? 

So much of what we talk about at FiveFour comes down to being honest with yourself and your colleagues. That’s true from top to bottom. If you can’t have open and honest communication, you can’t progress, you don’t grow. 

Many business leaders would have trouble just asking the question. Many managers would have difficulty giving an honest answer.  

The exercise is simple. The implications are not. 

Talk soon.