Do You Know the Secret Sauce for Growth?
(5 things You Need to Define)
Do you want to know the secret sauce that guarantees growth? Well me too, but frankly, I am not sure if one truly exists. Yet if it is growth that you are seeking, be it for your business or yourself, there are five things you need to define in order to ensure that you take the right steps. You must be able to clearly express your Purpose, Vision, Values, Outcomes and the Path to be traveled. These serve as your strategic guardrails. In the absence of that clarity, you risk being a ship without a rudder, drifting and at the mercy of the prevailing winds and current.
Purpose
In one simple sentence, can you describe either your personal or your business purpose? Until you are able to fully express, in its purest form, your reason for being, you will struggle to move forward. I have had many conversations with leaders. Those that are experiencing significant growth are able to quickly, clearly and effectively articulate their purpose. It is crucial to know why you are here, or why your business exists. This is your, and if you are leading a business, your company’s call to action. My purpose; to make a significant impact in the lives of my family, my clients and my community. My company’s purpose; to work to help businesses and business leaders grow. Clarify your sense of purpose and invest the needed time to distill it into one simple sentence or statement.
My company’s purpose; to work to help businesses and business leaders grow. Clarify your sense of purpose and invest the needed time to distill it into one simple sentence or statement.
Vision
It is difficult to run a race if you don’t know what the finish line looks like. How do you define success? If you were to transport yourself or your business into the future, what does that future bring, what have you accomplished? This should be aspirational. This is your chance to dream and think big. There is much written about visionaries, and I believe we all have that capability. We just think too small! If you have a true purpose, one that drives you everyday, then allow yourself to envision what the full manifestation of that purpose would yield.
Values
Values are more than just the moral imperatives. These should include what matters to you, what you stand for and what you feel best represents who you are or want to be. I often suggest to my clients that they think of these as the traits that you want people to share when you are eulogized. I know, it is a little morbid, but illustrative. I personally not only include values such as honesty, integrity and trust, but add to the list others such as humor, friendship and beginner’s mind. There will be many forks in the road and your values serve as your compass. When you confront a decision as to which direction to head, use these to help point the way. This will prevent you from traveling in a route that may appear more direct but requires the abandonment of one or more values on your list.
Outcomes
Outcomes are your proof points. These are the long term measureable goals that support the achievement of your vision. For example, if your vision is to grow your company from a regional player to a national power, then a desired outcome might be that you have distribution in all 50 states. I suggest that you limit these to no less than three and no more than five. Most importantly, is that they support or align with your stated vision.
Path
These short term goals are your milestones, predictors or indicators that you are in fact on the right path towards the achievement of your desired outcomes and vision. To build upon the illustration from above, a Path goal might be to expand distribution into the state of Texas within the next year. Which would indicate that you are moving in measurable fashion towards the stated desired outcome. When Path goals are not being achieved, it signals a need to readdress strategy or tactics. When they are being met, they serve to reinforce the current plans. They are trail markers.
While I doubt the existence of a secret sauce for guaranteed growth, I am certain of the benefit gained from possessing clarity of Purpose, Vision, Values, Outcomes and the Path. The first step is to know your purpose. Let’s use the comment section below to share either our personal or business statement of purpose. I will start; Our purpose is to work to help businesses and business leaders grow. Your turn.
If you find this to be a difficult undertaking, please feel free to reach out. I would be happy to have a conversation. Feel free to use the “contact us” tab on our website.
Thanks for reading.
Grow your business - Solve real issues – Establish Strategic Guardrails - Develop Integrative leaders – Foster Employee Enlightenment
At The Intertwine Group, our purpose is to help family businesses and business leaders grow. We work to solve real issues, establish strategic guardrails, develop integrative leaders and foster employee enlightenment