What is at stake?
Why is this important?
Aligning operations with the mission from the beginning allows the company to grow in the right direction, adopt a responsible by design approach, and thus achieve overall performance.
To do this, the startup relies on two pillars:
1️⃣ The power of alignment
For the responsible engagement approach to be credible and consistent, it is important to find alignment between:
- An inspiring purpose,
- Responsible operations in daily practices,
- And a responsible economic model.
Ex: Is my startup's mission to promote inclusion reflected in the company itself and its operations?
2️⃣ The power of beginnings
Thinking about internal operations responsibly from the start allows building the company on the healthiest foundations possible. When everything is still being built, the startup benefits from all the flexibility and agility necessary to align different dynamics.
3 actions to implement right now
1️⃣ Conduct an audit of current practices
Evaluate current operations in light of the mission: Are they aligned with the startup's mission? Based on this evaluation, identify strengths and weaknesses.
2️⃣ Implement "good practices" to limit risks
Their role is to ensure that the company's mission has been taken into account in every strategic decision and that the entire team shares the importance of alignment between internal operations and the startup's mission.
- They unify the collaborators around the mission and make each person responsible for their contribution to achieving this mission (a motivating factor).
- They ensure that it is visible both externally and internally: website, official documents, job descriptions, internal communication networks, employee and supplier charters, etc.
- They ensure that the mission is embodied in every decision-making process and in all of the startup's processes: an integral part of the recruitment and onboarding process, production process, marketing strategies, sales policies, partner selection, customer relationships, etc.
3️⃣ Integrate alignment into the company culture
Clearly communicate the values and mission to the early employees and encourage their active engagement.
Regularly measure the alignment of operations using KPIs to evaluate the startup's effectiveness in achieving its mission.
Regularly reassess the practices to ensure that they are still in line with the startup's mission.
📚 Further Reading
📘 ”Mission in a Bottle: The Honest Guide to Doing Business Differently - and Succeeding”
This illustrated book tells the story of the startup Honest Tea and offers practical advice on how they aligned their operations with their mission to "promote healthy and sustainable beverages." Happy reading!
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