Know Your Mission, Vision, and Values to Keep Your Team Aligned and Moving at the Right Pace.
By Stephanie Bickel
Team Fatigue is Real
You’ve likely seen it firsthand—your organization starts a new initiative with enthusiasm, but as time goes on, motivation dips, the pace slows, and teams struggle to stay focused. This is fatigue, and it can be a real momentum killer for any leader trying to push through a long-term strategy.
Increase Momentum by Knowing Your Mission, Vision, and Values
The key to overcoming fatigue is re-energizing your team, and one of the most powerful ways to do this is by doubling down on your mission, vision, and values. This is one of the top leadership communication skills. These aren’t just lofty statements—they're sentences that, when communicated effectively, help your team reconnect with the "why" behind their work. In our latest podcast episode, "Know Your Mission, Vision, and Values", we dive into how leaders can use mission, vision, and values to refocus their teams and push through the inevitable challenges of long-term projects.
It’s Not Just About Keeping the Wheels Turning
There’s a common misconception that to increase momentum, you need to push your team harder, with more tasks, tighter deadlines, and constant pressure. But that often leads to burnout. The real way to increase momentum is by reconnecting your team with the larger purpose behind their work. When your team sees how their efforts align with the organization’s mission and values, they’re more likely to find renewed energy and motivation to keep moving forward.
Good News/Bad News
The good news? You can re-inspire your team by communicating your mission, vision, and values in a way that feels fresh and relevant to the challenges they’re facing right now. The bad news? This requires thoughtfully prepared leadership communication, not just a once-a-year review of your mission statement. It’s a consistent, ongoing effort that demands thoughtful storytelling and regular check-ins to ensure these core principles still resonate.
Why Teams Need Purpose
Studies show that employees who feel connected to a larger purpose are more engaged, productive, and less likely to experience burnout. In fact, a Gallup survey found that 70% of employees who strongly agree that their organization’s mission or purpose makes their job feel important are engaged at work, compared to only 23% of those who disagree.
When teams know how their work contributes to something meaningful, they’re more likely to stay energized and committed—even when the going gets tough.
How Mission, Vision, and Values Guide Teams Through Challenges
I once worked with a leader who used his organization's values as the anchor through every difficult phase. He didn’t just repeat them during team meetings—he shared personal stories that brought those values to life. For example, when faced with a challenging deadline, he would remind his team of their value of "being growth-oriented" by sharing a personal story of a time when he pushed through adversity and came out stronger.
These stories didn’t just motivate his team—they gave them context for why the work mattered. They saw how the organization's values aligned with their own goals and found the strength to keep pushing forward.
Picture Your High-Energy, Mission-Driven Team
Imagine leading a team that’s consistently energized, aligned, and moving forward with purpose. They’re not just working on tasks—they’re working towards a mission they believe in, guided by values they resonate with. Instead of letting change fatigue slow them down, they find renewed motivation because they understand the "why" behind everything they do.
You create the path to your desired outcome when you consistently communicate your mission, vision, and values. Your team isn’t just following a checklist—they’re working towards a shared vision, and that keeps them engaged, focused, and ready to tackle whatever comes next.
Want to Learn A Top Leadership Communication Skill?
If you’re ready to combat your team's fatigue and lead with renewed energy, tune in for our lesson: Know Your Mission, Vision, and Values. In this lesson, we’ll give you practical tips on how to increase momentum by reconnecting your team with the principles that matter most.
Listen now and start building a purpose-driven, high-energy team that’s unstoppable in the face of change!
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How you speak is how you lead. Want to study this with other leaders? Take a look at www.speakbydesign.com/join. That's our leadership communication program that includes private, group, and self-paced learning for every learning style.
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