The Four Pillars of Organizational Success: Mission, Vision, Values, & Goals
“Missions and visions are more about people’s attitudes and behaviors than about words. And this means that for effective mission and vision statements, your emphasis should be on enacting them, on putting them into practice—on turning words into deeds..” – Jeroen Kraaijenbrink
Turning Words into Deeds
At Rise and Align Consulting, values are the foundation for our work and the key to transformative change. Our approach is rooted in aligning organizational values with actionable strategies, ensuring that every initiative resonates deeply and sustains long-term impact. Values guide decision-making, foster a cohesive culture, and drive the success and growth of our stakeholders. They matter because they provide clarity, motivation, and a sense of purpose, enabling organizations to achieve their highest potential and create lasting positive change.
In The Value of Core Values blog, we explored the importance of core values and their impact on individuals and organizations. We learned how core values guide our actions, decisions, and goals. In Core Values in Action, we discussed how to develop and implement core values in everyday practices to achieve lasting improvements.
How do we transition from individual or personal values to the collective or organizational level? Whereas core values are highly personal, collective values represent what matters most to a group of individuals, a team, or an organization. This blog will delve into developing collective values, revisiting existing ones, and integrating them into strategic planning and goal-setting efforts. But where do we start?
From Individual to Collective Values
We start with our mission and vision statements. Does your school district or organization have one? Probably. It's likely on your email signature, your website, and perhaps a poster on the wall. It might also be in your strategic plan. That is great, but how do we really put our mission and vision into action to achieve our organizational goals? By including our collective/organizational values! They are the fuel that drives our why (mission), our what (vision), and our progress (goals) forward.
Mission, Vision, Values, and Goals
I’m sure you’ve heard the terms mission, vision, values, and goals a number of times in your professional setting. They are often used interchangeably but are four distinct concepts that help drive an organization toward strategic improvement and success. Most organizations have some semblance of mission, vision, and goals statements. Research has found that although creating these statements can be a helpful step in the improvement process, they are insufficient alone to bring about the desired change (1, 2). Leaders must also tackle the values or collective commitments they will make and honor to achieve the team's shared vision.
Organizations that excel at achieving their mission, vision, and goals also incorporate collective values as the fuel to propel them forward. I’ve worked with various district, regional, statewide, and national educational organizations and nonprofits on strategic planning and evidence-based practice implementation efforts. One of the most powerful frameworks I use comes from the literature on Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) in schools, which I have adapted for organizations in various disciplines – education-focused and otherwise. Specifically, the Four Pillars of a Professional Learning Community: Shared Mission, Vision, Values, and Goals from Professional Learning Communities at Work (1). Here, the foundation of any learning organization rests upon the following four pillars and asks different questions of team members:
Mission (The Why): The mission describes the organization’s purpose and answers the question, “Why do we exist?”
Vision (The What): The vision is aspirational and answers the question, “What do we hope to become?”
Values (The How): The shared values describe the group's collective commitments and answer the question, “What attitudes, behaviors, and commitments must we demonstrate to create the organization of our vision?” For strategies to develop shared values, refer to Core Values in Action.
Goals (The Progress): The goals guide the organization's ongoing improvement work and answer the question, “What goals will we use to monitor our progress?”
Many organizations already have mission, vision, and/or goal statements, with their values implied. However, those organizations that define, communicate, and live by their shared values (or collective commitments) can clearly delineate how the work will be done and better measure the link between team member activities and goal attainment. This clarity in necessary attitudes, behaviors, and commitments enhances the group’s ability to reach their goals and improve on their practices of interest more efficiently and effectively than organizations that lack clarity in their collective values.
The Mission, Vision, Values, & Goals Facilitated Discussion Tool for Teams
To aid teams in defining or refining their mission, vision, values, and goals, I developed the Mission, Vision, Values, and Goals Facilitated Discussion Tool based on the Four Pillars of a Professional Learning Community from Professional Learning Communities at Work (DuFour et al., 2021). This free tool includes question prompts and examples of each pillar in a matrix format, followed by a blank document and an area for notes to capture your team's responses. This structured approach helps teams align their values with their mission and vision, ensuring cohesive and purpose-driven efforts.
The first page of the Mission, Vision, Values, and Goals Facilitated Discussion Tool provides a matrix with question prompts and examples for each pillar. The second and third pages are fillable and designed to capture the team's responses during facilitated discussions. This tool can be used in facilitated team discussions by following these steps:
Preparation: Share the tool with all team members before the meeting and encourage members to bring their own ideas. Ensure everyone understands the purpose and format of the activity. Encourage team members to familiarize themselves with the prompts and examples.
Facilitation: During the meeting, guide the team through each section. Use the prompts to stimulate meaningful discussion and the examples to provide clarity. Encourage active participation and ensure everyone’s voice is heard.
Documentation: Capture the team's responses directly in the fillable document. Make sure all perspectives are considered and documented comprehensively to reflect the team's collective input.
Review and Reflect: After completing the tool, review the documented responses as a team. Ensure alignment and consensus on the mission, vision, values, and goals. Discuss any discrepancies and refine the statements until consensus has been established.
Implementation: Use the agreed-upon mission, vision, values, and goals to guide strategic planning, decision-making, and daily practices. Regularly revisit these statements to ensure they remain relevant and adjust as necessary to reflect changes within the organization.
This structured approach helps ensure that all team members are aligned and committed to the organization's mission, vision, values, and goals. It fosters a cohesive, purpose-driven team environment fueled by organizational values and collective commitments.
Reflect & Act
To extend your learning and start implementing collective values within your team, consider these guiding questions and activities:
Identify & Discuss: Use the Mission, Vision, Values, and Goals Facilitated Discussion Tool with your team. Discuss and align on what each pillar means to your organization.
Values in Action: Reflect on how your team or organization currently personifies its collective values. Are they established and agreed upon? Are there areas for improvement? How can you ensure that values are consistently reflected in your daily practices?
Review & Adapt: Regularly review your mission, vision, values, and goals to ensure they remain relevant and meaningful. Adapt as necessary to reflect changes within your organization and its environment.
Take the Next Step
If you're ready to define, refine, and/or align your team or organization's mission, vision, values, and goals through specialized facilitation, I invite you to connect with us at Rise & Align. Our expertise in strategic planning and evidence-based practice implementation can help you achieve clarity, cohesion, and lasting positive change. Reach out today to discover how we can support your unique goals or to schedule a free consultation.
Align your values, transform your impact. Let’s rise and align together.
References
1. DuFour, R., DuFour, R., Eaker, R., Many, T. W., Mattos, M., & Muhammad, A. (2021). Revisiting Professional Learning Communities at Work: Proven Strategies for Sustained, Substantive School Improvement (2nd ed.). Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press.
2. Kraaijenbrink, J. (2022). The Strategy Handbook: The Secret Sauce to Daily Business Success. Leaders Press.