Why You Should Always Re-Evangelize Your Team About Your Goals and Mission

But when you’re bogged down with an endless list of to-dos and focused on short-term goals, the most important thing isn’t your latest sales report — it’s how the people on your team feel and whether they have a good sense of the mission you’re collectively working towards.

The challenge of maintaining focus

Particularly in a hybrid office environment, it can be hard as a founder to keep morale high and team members bought into your mission. It takes time and intention to refocus on the larger picture and remember what the day-to-day grind is about.

Some of the best leaders are the ones who slow down to remind themselves — and everyone around them — what the light at the end of the tunnel is. If it feels like your work needs galvanizing, take the time to be aspirational.

Share what inspires you and how you stay motivated. Camaraderie and morale can be invaluable and cultivating them can evangelize your business and revitalize your goals in a refreshing way.

The Value of Staying Focused on the Big Picture

Don’t be discouraged if you feel like the people on your team aren’t as excited about the work as you are. It’s normal for you to care the most — that’s one of the things that makes you the founder. It is your responsibility to keep team members bought in.

If they care about what they’re doing, they’ll work harder and take more initiative. The more they understand the overarching goals and mission, the more creative and forward thinking their ideas may be.

What’s more, work will be much more enjoyable for you when you’re surrounded by folks who are inspired and believe in what you’re doing.

The reality is, the more cohesive your team is, the more successful you will be. Nothing can tie you and the people you work with together better than a common belief and goal. You and your team can inspire each other and push one another to be better. And you can lead them there.

Here are five ways you can start to evangelize your business:

1. Have a consistent presence

Whenever and wherever you can, remind people why what you are doing matters. It’s important to have a presence around the people you work with. Not only will you better understand how other people are feeling and thinking, but you will be around to refocus everyone as needed.

The failure of a short-term goal or project can be really discouraging after committing a lot of time towards it. Reminding everyone what your larger goals are and why you’re doing what you are can have a lasting effect. Inspire and re-inspire the people around you in order to keep your team excited and optimistic.

2. Loop people in

Keeping your employees looped into how your goals are going is invaluable. Whether it be through weekly email updates or roundtable meetings, keep people updated on how things are going. Not only will it give your team more information to work with, but it will contribute to the unity and cohesiveness of the team.

Instituting a time for feedback, questions and concerns — such as hosting office hours — gives people space to share ideas and ask questions, both vital for maximizing creativity and ingenuity. The more a part of something people feel, the more committed they will be to it.

3. Be transparent

A contentious and possibly controversial idea to bring together your mission and the people around you, is to be transparent with your finances. Consider sharing some of your financials with the team.

Your economic success is one of many benchmarks you use to measure your growth. There’s no use in hiding financial failings or fluctuations from the only people that have the ability to improve things.

Clueing people into how you are doing gives them a better sense of how their work is being received. The more transparent you can be, the more accountable you can hold your team.

4. Share ideas

Whether it be weekly brainstorm sessions or refusing to leave a room until someone thinks of something new, make time for your team to collaborate! The best ideas tend to be those that are reached after working together.

Your team is made up of different people with varying strengths and perspectives. Bouncing thoughts off of each other is the best way to not only keep people excited and connected, but to generate the strongest collaboration. Encouraging your team to check in with each other and ask questions outside of structured time is invaluable as well.

5. Make the time

While transparency, collaboration and unity are nice to talk about, you need to be intentional if you hope to actually affect your work. You will always be busy but consider the impact that energizing your team can have, particularly when it comes to collaboration and ingenuity.

Prioritize these other strategies as you would any other aspect of your job and carve out the time to check in and communicate with your team — it could make all the difference.

Conclusion: It’s about the culture

Refocusing and uniting the people you work with is integral in moving towards your goals. When it comes to collaboration and cohesiveness, the best thing you can do for you and your team is establish a culture of open communication in the office.

You may find that as soon as you consistently start updating people on, for example, numbers, they will begin to come to you with updates and new ideas.

Don’t forget why you are working to build a successful company. Stay focused and remind yourself why you started this work in the first place — then, do your best to spread that energy around your office. The best way to lead people is to bring them together and the best work comes from bringing people together.