Mom and Apple Pie, and other Magic Spells
In US business culture we have a disparaging way to dismiss boilerplate vision, mission, value, or goals statements by calling them "Mom and Apple Pie". This means that the words are so vague and so agreeable that of course one would agree these things are great (very few people would say that we shouldn't cherish moms, or love apple pie). But the sentiments being criticized are also empty sentiments -- and the last thing one wants (the thinking goes) for a vision, or mission, or values, or goals statement is something that is an empty sentiment. Rather, one is supposed to seek something new, inspiring, surprising, profound and differentiating.
(If your buzz word bingo card is not already full, it will be, soon.)
But this is wrong. At least in part, if one ends up with "mom and apple pie" that is not a disaster. I have learned that the real value of a vision, mission statement, etc etc is NOT the end result, nor as a guiding principle for organizing people and work. The real value is in the conversation to generate the boilerplate, for the people in the room (and no one else). And the real value is for the people who "receive it" (after it is ratified) to dissect it -- again, just for the people in the room, having that conversation.
The content of the statement (mom and apple pie) does not matter. The opportunity to discuss values, feelings, data, impressions, history, future, competition, workplace politics, etc, etc, both when creating the boilerplate, and when receiving it and dissecting it, is the primary -- and perhaps ONLY value from vision, mission, value, and goals statements.
Why does that matter to you? Because regardless of your role in the creation or reception of such statements, you now know to pay VERY LITTLE attention to the statement -- and a whole bunch of attention to the people in the room, what they say and do, and the other issues and topics that get raised. These forums become a safe or at least appropriate place to bring up lots of things that don't get addressed during the course of ordinary events. At the very least, use these events to learn about the other people in the room. And when you get very good, you can use these events to subtly influence the other people in the room -- especially if they still think focusing on the "mom and apple pie" words is why you are all sitting around a conference room table.
Remember, visions, missions, etc, are the modern equivalent of magic spells. People agonize over the words, who says them, and how. Where. And what they REALLY mean. But at the end of the day, magic spells didn't work when we called them "magic spells" and they don't work in any conventional manner, today, when we call them by their other names (vision, mission, etc). But the events in which they are created and promulgated ARE opportunities to collect real data and to get real work done -- if you are ready to move beyond your belief in magic.
(If your buzz word bingo card is not already full, it will be, soon.)
But this is wrong. At least in part, if one ends up with "mom and apple pie" that is not a disaster. I have learned that the real value of a vision, mission statement, etc etc is NOT the end result, nor as a guiding principle for organizing people and work. The real value is in the conversation to generate the boilerplate, for the people in the room (and no one else). And the real value is for the people who "receive it" (after it is ratified) to dissect it -- again, just for the people in the room, having that conversation.
The content of the statement (mom and apple pie) does not matter. The opportunity to discuss values, feelings, data, impressions, history, future, competition, workplace politics, etc, etc, both when creating the boilerplate, and when receiving it and dissecting it, is the primary -- and perhaps ONLY value from vision, mission, value, and goals statements.
Why does that matter to you? Because regardless of your role in the creation or reception of such statements, you now know to pay VERY LITTLE attention to the statement -- and a whole bunch of attention to the people in the room, what they say and do, and the other issues and topics that get raised. These forums become a safe or at least appropriate place to bring up lots of things that don't get addressed during the course of ordinary events. At the very least, use these events to learn about the other people in the room. And when you get very good, you can use these events to subtly influence the other people in the room -- especially if they still think focusing on the "mom and apple pie" words is why you are all sitting around a conference room table.
Remember, visions, missions, etc, are the modern equivalent of magic spells. People agonize over the words, who says them, and how. Where. And what they REALLY mean. But at the end of the day, magic spells didn't work when we called them "magic spells" and they don't work in any conventional manner, today, when we call them by their other names (vision, mission, etc). But the events in which they are created and promulgated ARE opportunities to collect real data and to get real work done -- if you are ready to move beyond your belief in magic.