Does Your Team Know How They Advance the Mission?

People on your team need to understand why they are there and how their work fits into the larger mission.

They are more than a job description, more than a number. Each employee brings a gift, a talent, a strength that can aid your mission.

Do new employees know how they fit?

It is crucial that you orient new employees in a way that helps them understand their role and gives them sufficient time to acclimate to their new responsibilities.

Take the time to ensure they understand your vision, mission, and the passion that drives it. A conversation with the founder can accomplish this. If the founder isn’t around anymore, maybe a conversation with someone who has been working in the cause for some time?

Share critical stories that energize the cause. These institutional memories need to be passed along to each generation of employees.

I don’t want to make too much of a deal out of job descriptions, but they can be an effective tool.

Every employee deserves a clear job description that describes their duties and expectations. This is true even where flexibility is required.

Job duties can shift over time, and an overly rigid description may limit what the employee is expected to do. This flexibility, of course, has to be defined in the context of clear, regular duties.

Remember that every employee should have a number, that is, a measurable way they add to success. Ensure the new employee understands how their contributions contribute to the organization's overall success.

Your team will be more motivated by their work when each member knows how their daily duties help advance the mission.