I posed this question in Value Adding #80 and have received so much positive feedback about how helpful this has been to readers, I’ve decided to write a blog about it as well.
The answer comes from Deborah Pascoe, a long time friend and colleague of AnD’s. Her business is called Service Spirit (http://www.servicespirit.com.au).
Deborah’s framework on the why, what and how of Purpose, Vision and Values is:
Purpose is the ‘why’ an organisation exists; its unique reason for being. Purpose already exists and to articulate this involves a process of discovery or uncovering or peeling back layers. Vision, on the other hand is the ‘what’ and is a process of creation – as individuals or organisations, we make this up – we decide what we want the future to look like. Values (and underpinning behaviours) are fundamental to ‘how’ an organisation enacts its culture and forms the weft and weave of its very fabric.
Deborah continues:
We know from solid research that organisations that endure and prosper are characterised not only by the reach of their vision and strategic goals (the ‘what’), but more importantly by the extent to which they remain steadfast and true to their core ideology, that is, their purpose (the ‘why’) and values (the ‘how’).
We at AnD encourage you to take some time out to reflect on your organisation’s Purpose, Vision and Values using this helpful framework.
