Keeping The Mission In Front Of You

Do you ever have those days where you find yourself so buried in tasks that you lose sight of what you’re working toward?  Just yesterday, I had a conversation with a colleague about a tendency people have to get focused on the day-to-day tasks in front of them.  It seems we need situations to pull us back out to the 30,000 foot view so that we can appreciate the greater good we’re working toward.

In the early days of my career, I didn’t give much credence to the mission of the company I worked for.  In fact, when I think of my first employer, I can’t tell you what the actual mission was.  Earlier this summer I heard Ryan Estis speak about having passion for your work and he challenged the audience to recall the mission of our current organization.  Many in the audience could not do this.  The difference for me now is that I know and live the mission of my organization so it was easy to recall why I go to work each day.

How about you?  Other than for a paycheck, why do you get up and go to work each day?  Is there a greater reason that drives you?

I had the fortune of hearing a presentation online yesterday given by Dr. Daniel Crosby on this subject.  Dr. Crosby’s “Deep Leadership- Redstone Test Center Presentation” is well worth 30 minutes of your time.  He delivers some practical advice around how to be a better leader and does so with a fun, upbeat tone.  Take a moment to click through and listen to the presentation.

One thing he said resonated with me more than anything else.   Dr. Crosby said the one reason keeping the mission in front of us is so important is that when everything else is in a state of upheaval, that remains constant.  That can be your North Star.  Whatever changes you may be going through, whatever may be happening in the organization, at least (you) get to get up in the morning and go do something that benefits (others).

Those are the type of important messages we need to hear more of.  Messages that bring us back to the real reason we work and why so many people strive to have great performance.  It’s not just for the paycheck.

If you’re looking for someone to speak to your organization about leadership, I encourage you to reach out to Dr. Crosby.  As you’ve seen, he is first rate.