Today I want to break down the four components that make up your organization’s Azimuth. Your company’s Azimuth is its true north, the guiding light towards which you aim yourself and your team.
So, what are the four components within an Azimuth? 
They are:
1. Mission
2. Intent
3. Values
4. Culture
First is your mission. This is the who, what, and why of your organization, usually summed up in one or two sentences. Who are we? What do we do? Why do we do it? When you write this as a leadership team, it’s not directed by just one person, but created collectively.
Second is your intent. What’s our end state in the next two to three years? What key tasks must we perform to get there? What are the purposes of each task? Your intent brings your mission to life in a practical way.
Third are your values, the beliefs and ideals that guide your team’s actions and decisions. Values aren’t just words on a wall. They’re the principles that drive how you operate every day.
Fourth, there’s your culture. These are the behaviors you expect from team members daily that bring your values to life. Culture isn’t what you say, it’s what you do consistently.
When these four components align, magic happens. Your organization moves from a collection of individuals with their own agendas to a unified team working toward common goals. Without this alignment, departments become siloed, focusing primarily on their individual work rather than the good of the organization.
Have you clearly defined these four components for your organization? Are they written down and regularly reviewed? Most importantly, does everyone know them?
Remember, setting your Azimuth isn’t a one time event, but a living (and ongoing) process that guides everything you do.
You can see more about the Azimuth on previous video blogs.
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