What Does It Mean to Be a Mission-Driven Company?
Being a mission-driven company means that the values, goals and actions of every person in your organization are aligned. It means having transparent intentions and investing your employees in your ideals.
Take, for example, Coca-Cola. They did not become one of the worlds most recognizable brands by having a mission simply to make soda. No, the mission of Coca-Cola is, “To refresh the world… To inspire moments of optimism and happiness… To create value and make a difference.” And it’s clear to see this mantra reflected in every advertisement the company has produced and the way the company does business.
Google’s mission is, “To organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful."
Nike’s mission is, “To bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete in the world."
These statements are a proclamation of purpose and passion. A mission statement is a standard on which a company weighs their decisions and actions. It’s not just what you do, it's what you hope to achieve. So, being a mission-driven company means that you have a clear purpose and an established set of values on which to act. It means everyone is working together.
The important question that follows is, how do you become a mission-driven company?
Establishing Your Mission With Challenge Coins
Challenge coins are a physical symbol of an organization’s purpose and values. Companies hand them out to employees to align team goals and give them to the public to promote their mission. They become a piece of shared identity and help people remember your company’s purpose. When designs incorporate actual mission statements, logos and colors, they become a true signature for your company to share with the world.
Think of your mission like your signature. A signature is quite literally a sign of intent and proof of identity. Every company is looking for a way to leave their mark, or their signature, on the world.
But how do people understand your signature? This question is the basis for becoming a strong, mission-driven company. To guide people’s perception of your company, your mission needs to focus on the why and how of your business, not just the practical what.
Galileo is a small business in Chicago that provides summer camps for children in pre-k all the way through 8th grade. Their mission is to create a world of fearless innovators. A summer camp is what the company is. But they are not perceived as just a summer camp because of how they accomplish their mission and why they are driven to accomplish that mission. It even shows in their name, Galileo, which was chosen to reflect the fearless and creative attitude embodied by the man Galileo, one of our world’s most influential innovators.
The success of Galileo shows that even small businesses benefit from setting up a strong mission and showing the world how they plan on making a difference. Normal summer camps entertain children for a while, distracting them with games and activities, but Galileo teaches children how to be innovators. They are different because they are empowering children to create and explore, giving them tools that will shape them into tomorrow’s greatest thinkers. Parents can appreciate their mission because they understand its importance.
Challenge coins are perfect for small companies like Galileo and large corporations of any size because they are a reflection of morals, mission and purpose. They remind people why your company is important to the world, and how you plan on making a difference.
What Are the Benefits Amongst Employees?
The benefits of having a mission-driven company are increased engagement and productivity in staff, stronger support from people outside the company and overall growth. By giving your team a strong mission, they are filled with purpose. For people working at Coca-Cola, it's not just about going to work to collect a paycheck; it's about inspiring optimism and happiness!
With a clear purpose, employees know their efforts are going towards reaching something great, or making something better, or helping people achieve their needs. Engaged employees are more productive and loyal because they are happier at work. Deloitte conducted a study that found over 80% of employees of purpose-driven companies were confident that their company would grow and were optimistic about the overall future prospects of their place of work.
In a second study, Deloitte found that about two out of every three millennials in today’s workforce chose to work for a company because of the purpose of the organization. What matters more to the growing workforce is a company’s impact, not their profit margin.
Having a clear mission creates optimism and helps your company grow. It helps people see what their efforts are achieving and gets them involved in the company. When your employees are invested in your mission, your company will flourish.
Perfecting Your Signature With Challenge Coins
The importance of a signature cannot be understated. For a person, a signature is a literal mark of identity on paper. Proof that you are alive and that your hand moved across the page. For a company, a signature is even more. It’s the identity of everyone working together towards the same goal. A company's signature is proof of their mission.
Challenge coins embody the same identity and purpose as a unique signature. They are a calling card shared with the world, representing what your company is here to accomplish. Employees carry them with pride as a reminder of what they are here to do. Supporters keep them close as a symbol of what you have achieved. Once you have a firm understanding of your company’s purpose, it is time to share it with the world. And the perfect place to start is with challenge coins.
