Every leader needs to be centered on their true North. An organization’s true North does not change and serves as the guiding point for planning and navigating forward. Knowing your true North is critical amidst rapid change and unpredictable events. Our workplace continues to experience dramatic shifts and unprecedented complexity.
True North encompasses your mission, vision, and values. It is imperative that an organization has clarity about these essential factors and remains centered on them when making decisions, hiring team members, or resolving issues. There are many roads that can lead you toward a goal, but some will take you away from your true North rather than keeping you aligned.
Organizations that lose alignment with their true North risk losing trust with their customers and team members. A recent example is Target, which proclaimed itself to be a human rights advocate and an organization that stood for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). However, in light of political pressure, it changed course and backtracked on its inclusive efforts. Many people lost trust in its purported commitment, and its sales have plummeted as a result.
Leaders who do not use their true North in decision-making are like a ship without a rudder. This causes the ship to go wherever the wind blows and stray off course. The same happens when an organization makes decisions based on convenience, popularity, or the fewest obstacles. They lose momentum, credibility, and effectiveness when their values, mission, and vision are not reflected throughout the organization.
Furthermore, when hiring new candidates, it is critical that they align with the values and mission of the organization. Too often, companies hire someone based on their skills or experience without considering if they align with their true North. Asking interview questions about how candidates have displayed your values in the past is an important step in the hiring process.
Effective leaders also define their success by how closely aligned their operations, teams, and sales are with their true North. Not all growth is equal, especially if it means losing sight of our commitments. Remaining aligned allows others to trust us and continue to follow our lead.
