During the  third  episode of the  Coaching Through Stories  podcast, host Eric Bean coaches us on the importance of mission using the 1980s Tylenol crisis as a case study. Learn about the power of having a mission, especially during a crisis. This episode will help you consider why missions are meaningful and why they should be used when you encounter non-routine situations.  

  

NOTE: This episode was recorded prior to the COVID-19 pandemic  

  

Episode Highlights:   

  

• Learn the story of the 1980s Tylenol crisis that proved the value of Johnson & Johnson’s mission.  
• Learn how Johnson & Johnson managed the crisis using their mission statement to filter their decision-making.   
• Missions matter and need to be used.  

• Eric defines vision, mission, and philosophy.  
• Your behavior is a good indication of your values.  
• Organizations need to leverage their mission.  
• If you’re a leader, review your mission with your employees regularly.  
• 11,000 senior managers were asked their company's top 3-5 priorities and only about 1/3 could name their company's top three goals.  

• Get to know your priorities and reflect on them.  
• Mission improves strategic alignment.  
• Leaders must consider if they are rewarding behaviors that are aligned with company values.  
• Employees can align their work with the company’s values.  
• We want to have purpose and meaning in our lives.  

• Why we’re working matters.  
• Meaning attracts talent.  
• A strong mission fosters customer engagement.  
• You have control over your mission, value, purpose, and philosophy.  
• Gallup found that margin and mission are not at odds with each other.  

• The why matters because the why will get others to buy into your ideas and initiatives.  
• Finding purpose as an employee will give you opportunities to lead.  
• Challenge your mission from time to time.  
• Your mission can serve as a guide to make decisions during challenging and non-routine situations.  
• Eric recommends The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle for additional reading.  

  

  

3 Key Points:  

 

1.  Mission matters and needs to be known to help employees align their work.  

2.  There are major benefits to showing up to work with a purpose.  

3.  Your mission can serve as a guide to make decisions during challenging and non-routine situations.  

  

 

Resources Mentioned:  

  

  

• Simon Sinek’s “Start With Why” TED talk 
• The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle 

• HigherEchelon 

 

 

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