Trivia Question: What is the brightest star in the northern sky? If you answered the North Star you are in good company. Many people incorrectly believe that The North Star is among the brightest stars because it has served as a celestial landmark for navigational purposes for centuries. Given that it barely breaks into the Top 50 of brightest stars, what explains its fame and function?
The North Star, Polaris, resides very close to the North Pole. The North Pole is the point around which the entire northern sky turns. Since other stars in the northern hemisphere essentially rotate around The North Star, it holds nearly still in the dark heavens. When early travelers needed to be oriented, they would locate The North Star. With that as their steady point, they could identify South, East and West.
In 247 B.C. in China, the compass was discovered. Some people believe that a compass is useful in that it identifies the direction you are facing while holding the compass. A reasonable assumption but incorrect again. The earth has a magnetic field inside of it running vertically between its north and south poles. The needle of a compass is a magnet that is attracted to, and thus points to, the northern point of the earth’s inner magnet, thus identifying the North Pole.
While smartphones and automobile navigational systems have simplified this orientation process, the concept of “true north” is of vital importance to a community corrections agency. In an industry in which technology and the volumes of information are continually multiplying, agencies must be nimble. If change is inevitable, how does one determine whether they are headed in the correct direction? Your agency must have a point in the darkness and confusion that does not move, your North Star. This point is your Purpose, the mission and vision around which everything else in the organization is oriented. Only when you can identify a stable purpose, can you determine whether you are on the desired track or lost in the wilderness.
In Start with Why, author Simon Sinek explains, “People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it.” Despite volumes of research to the contrary, employers continue to attempt to motivate employees with higher salaries, bonuses and benefits. After financial compensation is considered fair, more money is not the answer to more motivation. Want to improve your agency’s performance? Do a better job of explaining your Purpose, your “why”. Give a person a strong “why” and they will reward you with undying loyalty and work ethic.
An agency’s purpose, their “why”, is typically articulated in their mission statement and/or statement of values. This serves as your “true north” during challenging times. When there are multiple priorities, and potential conflicts, it is useful to have a written statement of “why” you do what you do. As Roy Disney explained, “It’s not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are.” If you believe you are off track or wandering aimlessly, your mission statement will point you to your “true north”, your Purpose.
You do not need an out of town consultant with a suit and tie to help you write a Purpose Statement. Shorter is better (Pepsi’s mission statement was once, “Beat Coke.”).
The work you do in community corrections is important to society.
You save lives.
Now there is a North Star.