Flex your Mission Muscles!
We hear a lot these days about "mission drift". I'm not sure we should worry about mission drift. I wonder, if that's the wrong focus. I am not convinced that donors and volunteers are inspired by mission. I believe, they are inspired by a great vision.
Instead of assessing how an activity supports your mission, perhaps you should be asking whether or not your mission is still the most relevant and effective way to achieve your vision?
Drift or Progress?
We live in a world of change and we work in an industry that is much too risk averse for its own good. Consider the fact that maybe you're not drifting at all? Maybe you're actually moving closer to what really matters. Perhaps your strict adherence to mission is now hampering your ability to achieve your vision? Perhaps new and better ways to achieve your vision are available to you today? Perhaps your supporters have changed? Perhaps your mission is losing relevance? Some questions to consider:
- Is your mission limiting or enhancing our ability to achieve your vision?
- Is your mission flexible enough to allow us to make the good progress toward achieving your vision?
- Is your mission focused enough to ensure we are effective?
- Is your mission the product of inertia and emotional attachment? Or is it a vital and progressive path to success?
- When was the last time you evaluated your mission?
In some cases, you should change and evolve as time goes on. Rigid adherence to an ineffective mission may be at the root of some of your most challenging issues. Be brave! Be open and be prepared to change. Ask hard questions. Invite feedback from people outside of your board and staff. You may discover that your mission is holding you back.
Sometimes mission drift isn't a lack of focus; it's a necessary and natural movement towards a more appropriate focus. Be willing to be better.
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