About Purpose, Priorities and Alignment

Some of the healthiest debates in an organization are about its priorities. Here is an exercise your organization could do, to develop a better sense of alignment.

1. Define your purpose.

Answer these five questions briefly (typically in 1 line.)

1. Who are you? (This question is not as simple as it seems to be. This is a question about your organization's identity, its self-perception. Many times it is extremely hard to get the right answer. )
2. What do you do? (List the products or services you offer, or better, say what outcomes you help achieve)
3. For whom? (If you were not around, who would miss you? Would there be a tear in the universe? Where? Who will mourn you? This could be customers, community and other stakeholders)
4. What difference do you make? (Obviously you make some difference in a unique way for those who will miss you. What difference is that?)
5. Using what unique competencies? (What is it about you that helps you make that difference year-after-year? What is your unique strength? Your secret sauce?)

2. Define your priorities.

Use a table such as the one below. Too many priorities are no good.

Short Term (3-6 months)	Medium Term (1 Year)	Long Term (3 Years)
1.	6.	10.
2.	7.	11.
3.	8.	12.
4.	9.
5.

3. Check alignment.

Now answer the following questions

1. Are your priorities aligned to your purpose?
2. Have you allocated resources (time, people) in line with priorities?
3. Have you prepared yourself to change resource allocation as you transition to mid-term and long-term?
4. Do you feel you can make some changes to align yourself with the priorities?
5. What are those changes, if any?