Mission Statement vs. Reality Department:
Ever since Bob Waterman and Tom Peters published In Search of Excellence more than two decades ago organizations have wrestled with the idea of a “purpose” or “mission statement”. Untold hours are spent at retreats to craft a statement that reflects the reason the organization exists. Such statements find their way on to nice plaques, annual reports, T-shirts and coffee mugs. Unfortunately the reality is often that the meaning and sentiment are conspicuously absent from the daily behaviours.
This subject appears with regularity during our weekly Solve-the-problems-of-the-Universe Breakfasts. The latest incarnation is connected to an ongoing discussion of why the basic purpose of a hot meal program and shelter for the homeless continually finds itself embroiled in politics and “the system”. Various parties to the exercise spend a ton of time discussing options, studying the problem, filing reports, and holding meetings. In the meantime, the few folks who actually make it work keep serving dinners to people who probably wouldn’t otherwise eat.
A kid of about 8 is clutching a small bag of cookies as she leaves aforementioned public meal program. Grinning like the proverbial cheshire, she is blissfully unaware of the politics, meetings, studies, and analysis going on far away from this place of caring and love. She just knows somebody cares enough to feed her and give her a bag of cookies.
Your Intrepid Reporter suggests that, on some level, the kind person who gave her the cookies just lives the mission without fanfare. Those who wrote the Mission statement don’t get that reality, they’re much too busy at their meetings. And how about your organization? Nice plaque, T-shirt, coffee mug . . . or a group of people living day to day in the service of others?
What Does it Really Mean Department:
Inquring Minds (I.M.) wonder who spends the hours to create phrases that say nothing while sounding as if something is actually happening. You probably know the Russians are ticked at the U.S. Mister Putin said some unkind stuff about President Bush, and the two attended the same meeting this week in Germany as participants in the G-8. At a brief press conference Bush said “We agreed to have strategic dialogue and discuss our concerns.” He noted that “our representatives will be meeting to have further conversations, and find some solutions.” It is to be noted the two are in the same place at the same time, they both know what the issues are, and I can’t help but wonder why they don’t just talk about it NOW.
Deer Me Department:
New Brunswick’s legislature had an un-announced visitor recently when a deer found its way into the hallowed halls, romped around for a while, and was eventually escorted out by a security guard. There was no word on whether the deer watched Question Period, or voted on any matters of great importance.
Off and Running Department:
The Ontario Legislature has packed it in for the summer, which means we’ll now be subjected to a guhzillion (that’s a lot) promises, as the run to the October election heats up. Already this week the Premier promised a ton of money for farmers, closely on the heels of the Conservatives promising a ton of money for farmers. Is there a pattern here? Hmmm! Next, watch for “help for ordinary working families” from the NDP, and lots of environmental stuff from the Greens.
Ever since Bob Waterman and Tom Peters published In Search of Excellence more than two decades ago organizations have wrestled with the idea of a “purpose” or “mission statement”. Untold hours are spent at retreats to craft a statement that reflects the reason the organization exists. Such statements find their way on to nice plaques, annual reports, T-shirts and coffee mugs. Unfortunately the reality is often that the meaning and sentiment are conspicuously absent from the daily behaviours.
This subject appears with regularity during our weekly Solve-the-problems-of-the-Universe Breakfasts. The latest incarnation is connected to an ongoing discussion of why the basic purpose of a hot meal program and shelter for the homeless continually finds itself embroiled in politics and “the system”. Various parties to the exercise spend a ton of time discussing options, studying the problem, filing reports, and holding meetings. In the meantime, the few folks who actually make it work keep serving dinners to people who probably wouldn’t otherwise eat.
A kid of about 8 is clutching a small bag of cookies as she leaves aforementioned public meal program. Grinning like the proverbial cheshire, she is blissfully unaware of the politics, meetings, studies, and analysis going on far away from this place of caring and love. She just knows somebody cares enough to feed her and give her a bag of cookies.
Your Intrepid Reporter suggests that, on some level, the kind person who gave her the cookies just lives the mission without fanfare. Those who wrote the Mission statement don’t get that reality, they’re much too busy at their meetings. And how about your organization? Nice plaque, T-shirt, coffee mug . . . or a group of people living day to day in the service of others?
What Does it Really Mean Department:
Inquring Minds (I.M.) wonder who spends the hours to create phrases that say nothing while sounding as if something is actually happening. You probably know the Russians are ticked at the U.S. Mister Putin said some unkind stuff about President Bush, and the two attended the same meeting this week in Germany as participants in the G-8. At a brief press conference Bush said “We agreed to have strategic dialogue and discuss our concerns.” He noted that “our representatives will be meeting to have further conversations, and find some solutions.” It is to be noted the two are in the same place at the same time, they both know what the issues are, and I can’t help but wonder why they don’t just talk about it NOW.
Deer Me Department:
New Brunswick’s legislature had an un-announced visitor recently when a deer found its way into the hallowed halls, romped around for a while, and was eventually escorted out by a security guard. There was no word on whether the deer watched Question Period, or voted on any matters of great importance.
Off and Running Department:
The Ontario Legislature has packed it in for the summer, which means we’ll now be subjected to a guhzillion (that’s a lot) promises, as the run to the October election heats up. Already this week the Premier promised a ton of money for farmers, closely on the heels of the Conservatives promising a ton of money for farmers. Is there a pattern here? Hmmm! Next, watch for “help for ordinary working families” from the NDP, and lots of environmental stuff from the Greens.
And One More Thing About "Mission Statements" Department:
A chap we know who used to own a few donut stores had a simple way of teaching his staff how the business ought to work. Each team member was required to sign a small commitment card that read: "Every customer will leave here feeling better than when they came in". How tough is that? Too easy. Sadly, the fellow no longer owns the places and they haven't been the same since he sold them.
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