Your People and Their Purpose

Listening to a recent radio interview with a senior point guard before a college basketball game, I knew that the player was wise beyond his years.

A good point guard, he said, may average 30 points per game, or only 3. The mark of a good point guard, to him, was whether or not he was creating scoring opportunities for his team.

This is a well coached player who has a true understanding of the value that he brings to the table. Can you say the same about your employees?

Well coached employees do not just have a good understanding of the tasks that have been assigned to them. They also have a solid understanding of how what they do allows the company to be what it wants to be.

When a company develops a brand vision for itself, it is describing the ultimate customer service experience for which it wants to be known.

Such a vision is meaningless, however, without everyone knowing how they help bring this vision to life.

For example, if your widget company wants to be known as the company that makes the highest quality widgets, it isn't enough for your IT guy to believe that his job is to simply keep the computers and servers working properly while the development of the brand experience is left to sales or product engineers. Your IT guy should have clarity on how the maintenance and development of IT systems helps the company be known for what it wants to be known for, and he should be evaluated on whether or not he is helping the company achieve this vision.

Having all of your employees know their true role in your company is vital to your company becoming what it has always wanted to be.