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I read a very interesting snippet in the Sunday Times over the weekend.
A reporter questionned an American soldier in the Green Zone about his thoughts on the massive suicide bombs that had killed dozens of people at a Shi'ite Shrine that morning.
"Yeah, I saw something about it on my office television," he replied. "But I didn't watch the full report. I was too busy working on my democracy project."
This reminded me of Good Samaratin study that was completed in Princeton around the early 1970's in the USA. Basically the drift of the study was that theology students were told to deliver a sermon on the topic of the Good Samaritan to a group across campus.
A sample of these students were told that they were late, and were advised to get to the destination asap. Along the way, the students passed by a person who was obviously in distress. Unknownst to them it was an actor playing the role of a victim and planted by the research team.
Ninety percent of the "late" students ignored the needs of the suffering person as they made their way towards the class.
In both circumstances, people were focused on their immediate goal which appeared completely detached from what should be their compass, their mission.
In organisations and indeed at a personal level, the challenge is to ensure that we are living and following our mission. Our goals/activities should not bring us in an opposite direction otherwise we have disconnect!
When you focus on your mission at a personal level, a meaningful, fulfilled adventure awaits.
When an organisation focuses on it's mission, one which reflects the dreams and values of all employees, it creates a culture in which creativity, internal and external customer loyalty flourishes.
Posted by Kevin Kelly at
June 27, 2007 09:53 AM