Our approach to Values, Vision, Why and Mission

Key concepts in Start with Values:

  1. Setting values, vision, why and mission all happen in the context of a half day "Vision Session" with the business owner(s).

  2. We start with values because they are the most important.

  3. The homework is important. Use the values audit from the Strategic Assessment to identify potential values that came from your interviews.

  4. The business owner needs to show up with the right side of the page filled out already. These are the values they aspire to build a culture around.

  5. Prune back until you have 4 or 5 values. Less is more.

  6. Values must be defined. Short and sweet is best. Everyone needs to understand exactly what the business owner means when a certain value is invoked.

  7. This is a conversation with the business owner. Don't make it any harder than it is.

You can download the Values Worksheet below.

 Key concepts in setting vision:

  1. I like numbers in vision statements because they reduce ambiguity.

  2. The entire point of having a vision statement is to communicate to all the people that are going to help you accomplish it. If it is ambiguous you won't be able to communicate it effectively.

  3. The Vision Numbers Worksheet (download below) is useful in helping business owners quantify vision. It should be completed before the meeting.

  4. If you have two or more business owners having them go through the vision numbers worksheet together is a tremendous value all by itself.

  5. You need to create a safe place where your business owner is comfortable sharing their heart with you.

Download the Vision to Numbers worksheet below

Key concepts covered in Why Matters Most:

  1. So far we've covered values and vision. Values are about governing behaviour (how we do what we do) and they are relevant to everyone on the team and everyone that interacts with the team.

  2. Vision is about what we are trying to accomplish. It is most relevant to people on the team.

  3. Why gets to what motivates you and it will resonate (or not) on a personal level with those you have a chance to share it with.

  4. Start with Why by Simon Sinek is a great synopsis of this concept. Video linked below.

  5. Think about "Why" as the elevator speech you want to have. The one that combines your values and vision to describe what gets you excited about your business.

  6. For this part of the "Vision Session" to be effective you must WRITE IT DOWN.

  7. The immediate action step for the business owner is to PUBLISH their why. The company website is the most logical place for them to start.

  8. This is a FUN conversation to have with the business owner. Enjoy it.

Simon Sinek’s video is worth your time

Key concepts covered in Mission and the Vision Session

  1. At this point the mission should write itself.

  2. The mission is for public consumption.

  3. You are going to be using values, vision and why much more often than mission.

  4. You will use values to critique behaviour.

  5. You will use vision to explain where you are going and what is behind decisions you are making.

  6. You will use why to build connection and genuine relationships.

  7. In my world the mission statement is at the bottom of the list for practical use.

Our Vision Session agenda is typically covered in one-half day session.

  • This time is spent with the business owner.

  • My preference is to start in the morning at 9am.

  • We spend about an hour working on values.

  • We spend about an hour and half working on vision. Starting with numbers and then pruning back to a succinct statement.

  • We spend about 45 minutes working on the why.

  • We spend about 15 minutes working on mission.

You can download the Vision Session Agenda below.

Free Downloads

You can download the Values Worksheet, Vision to Numbers Worksheet and Vision Session Agenda.