Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

how we're doing in the things that matter most to us as a family.
When we plan our family goals and activities, we say, “In light of these
principles, what are the goals we're going to work on? What are our action plans
to accomplish our goals and actualize these values?”
We review the statement frequently and rework goals and jobs twice a year,
in September and June -- the beginning of school and the end of school -- to
reflect the situation as it is, to improve it, to strengthen it. It renews us, it
recommits us to what we believe in, what we stand for.
Organizational Mission Statements
Mission statements are also vital to successful organizations. One of the most
important thrusts of my work with organizations is to assist them in developing
effective mission statements. And to be effective, that statement has to come
from within the bowels of the organization. Everyone should participate in a
meaningful way -- not just the top strategy planners, but everyone. Once again,
the involvement process is as important as the written product and is the key to
its use.
I am always intrigued whenever I go to IBM and watch the training process
there. Time and time again, I see the leadership of the organization come into a
group and say that IBM stands for three things: the dignity of the individual,
excellence, and service.
These things represent the belief system of IBM. Everything else will
change, but these three things will not change. Almost like osmosis, this belief
system has spread throughout the entire organization, providing a tremendous
base of shared values and personal security for everyone who works there.
Once I was training a group of people for IBM in New York. It was small
group, about 20 people, and one of them became ill. He called his wife in
California, who expressed concern because his illness required a special
treatment. The IBM people responsible for the training session arranged to have
him taken to an excellent hospital with medical specialists in the disease. But
they could sense that his wife was uncertain and really wanted him home where
their personal physician could handle the problem.
So they decided to get him home. Concerned about the time involved in
driving him to the airport and waiting for a commercial plane, they brought in a
helicopter, flew him to the airport, and hired a special plane just to take this man
to California.
I don't know what costs that involved; my guess would be many thousands of
dollars. But IBM believes in the dignity of the individual. That's what the
company stands for. To those present, that experience represented its belief
system and was no surprise. I was impressed.