Finding Your Purpose & Chicken Sandwiches

What’s your purpose?

I know it’s a heavy question, but it doesn’t have to be a heavy answer.

We all define our own purpose in life, whether it’s to be a good person, a good parent, or just to be good to others. Our purpose shapes our identities. Whatever you think your purpose in life is, your actions will reflect that.

Why should it be any different in business?

By creating a purpose statement for your business, you’ll give your company a strong identity for your employees to rally behind and create an environment where everyone’s decisions all lead toward the same goal. A strong purpose statement can be the backbone of your success. 

Take Chick-fil-A, for instance. While their business model is built on selling delicious chicken sandwiches, their purpose isn’t just to sell as many chicken sandwiches as possible. Chick-fil-A’s purpose statement states that its objective is to “have a positive influence on all who come in contact with Chick-fil-A."

Regardless of which location you go to, Chick-fil-A employees are notably kind and willing to go the extra mile to help their customers. Chick-fil-A’s world-class customer service at every location has made it one of the most beloved and successful fast-food franchises ever.

Every Chick-fil-A location maintains this standard of superior customer service because every employee is guided by a clear purpose statement that defines exactly how to act in every situation. Whenever they’re faced with a decision in their job, all they have to do is think, ‘How would this action create a positive influence on our customers?’

Having a standardized approach is incredibly powerful for any business. Establishing your own concise purpose statement will guide your employees to effectively accomplish your business’ goals regardless of the situation.

Without establishing a purpose statement, it will be difficult to properly convey your company’s goals to your employees. While your employees will continue to do the tasks you assigned them to the best of their abilities, they won’t be able to handle complex situations on their own as there is no overall purpose to drive their decision-making.

Company culture is also nearly impossible to establish without a core purpose. Without a core message to rally behind, your employees can become too individualistic, leading to breakdowns in communication and an overall lack of cohesion across your services.

Doesn’t sound like a fun time, right?

Instead, establish a clear purpose statement so your team will be operating on the same page. Once your team fully works as a unit, you’ll quickly discover that a well-defined purpose gives your company limitless potential.

If you need assistance in developing your company’s purpose statement, Bering McKinley is here to help. 

Our team assists companies in discovering their identity and maximizing their potential, using our decades of knowledge to craft solutions that are tailored to their goals.

For more information, contact us here.