Essences – ElPropósito3 min de lectura

The key joints of a strategy

We often jump into action without asking where it will take us. The truth is that, in many cases, it leads nowhere in particular. Years ago I read a line from Michael Hyatt, one of my favorite authors, saying that simply writing down a goal raises your odds of achieving it by 40%. That struck me deeply, because I am a firm believer in the power of writing. Putting my goals on paper, whether in my journal or in annual goal lists, along with quotes, book notes and inspiring lines, is a practice that has been with me all my life.

Still, I have asked myself whether everything we do should be aligned with a higher purpose. As many of my readers know, I love writing about purpose, and I believe a large part of our daily work should be in tune with our personal purpose or with the purpose of the organization, team or institution we work for.

Strategy and a clear north: vision for success

In strategy, it is crucial to articulate the concepts and statements that capture the essence of an organization or, in a personal exercise, the essence of the individual. I consider a clear life vision essential. Through a few key questions, someone who feels lost can find their north and define where they are headed. The same happens in organizations. When a company gets wrapped up in the day to day and never looks up, it risks drifting off course, either toward a cliff or away from the summit it set out to reach.

Along the same lines, a company can also lose sight of its original mission. Over time, many organizations drift from their mission without ever choosing to, simply for lack of clarity and direction. It shows in the number of unrelated projects they take on. In the same way, a person who gets involved in too many things without a clear focus loses sight of their personal mission.

Values: the compass of culture

Values, often overlooked in strategic planning, are fundamental elements that serve as the compass of an organization’s culture. You cannot aspire to a high-performance culture without understanding values and committing to them. Nor can you build strong human capital if values are not taken seriously. Values are the pillars of organizational culture, and deep cultural change is directly tied to them and to what activates them. A true leader knows that deep change inside the organization is closely bound to culture and therefore to values. It is no accident that the line attributed to Peter Drucker, "culture eats strategy for breakfast," carries so much weight.

Purpose: the heart of strategy

At the heart of strategy lies the definition of purpose. For a purpose to truly define the essence of an organization or a person, it has to be broad enough and, at the same time, clear enough for everyone involved. A well-defined purpose works as a beacon that guides actions and decisions and brings everyone together toward a common goal.

Warm regards and all the best,

Rodrigo Baccaro

Author: Rodrigo Baccaro

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