A company mission should be more than just some words in an employee manual or displayed on an office wall.
Executed poorly, a company mission feels like a platitude: corny, trite and unearned. They can sometimes feel lofty and aspirational, which makes it hard for employees to connect that mission to their work. It can even damage the employee perception of an otherwise exemplary company.
Conversely, a strong company mission has the power to galvanize workers around a shared purpose and improve long-term success. And it might be more important to create a mission-driven work culture now than ever before. According to a 2021 McKinsey study, nearly two-thirds of U.S. employees say that COVID-19 has caused them to reflect on their purpose in life, while 70 percent of employees say that their sense of purpose is defined by their work.
Leaders play a key role in reinforcing the mission of the organization and creating a sense of purpose, but it requires authenticity and consistency. In order to be effective, the mission needs to be realistic, aligned with behavior, baked into strategy and instilled into every facet of the organization.
This is easier said than done, so Built In NYC talked to leadership from three local companies in the healthcare industry for insight into how they foster a mission-driven culture.
Truveris is a digital health company on a mission to drive lower prescription costs and improve health.
As a team leader, how do you translate Truveris’s mission into specific actions or goals for both the company and individual teams?
Communicate what the company mission is and connect the mission to the roles and responsibilities of each division and even each individual within the team. We do this from the beginning when interviewing candidates before they join the team so that individuals can determine if they feel aligned with the mission at large. Are they excited to be an active contributor in bringing that mission forward?
What aspect of your company culture or values most reflects the company mission?
Our commitment to better: Better access and better adherence lead to better health. We are committed to improving access to therapies so patients can get better. Our team constantly considers how to connect life sciences partners and patients who will benefit from their therapies. We assess specific barriers patients and healthcare professionals will face when trying to start or stay on therapy and solve for them. We work closely with our life sciences partners to integrate Truveris solutions seamlessly and constantly assess the impact we’re making.
What role do your team members play in building, strengthening or celebrating your company mission?
Our life sciences team proudly heralds the Truveris mission and lives it every day. You can feel it in every discussion. Teammates respect and trust each other, which fosters rich discussion and free-flowing ideas.
Go a step further and connect the mission to the roles and responsibilities of each division and even each individual within the team.”
Rightway Healthcare is a healthtech and services company on a mission to simplify the healthcare experience.
As a team leader, how do you translate Rightway’s mission into specific actions or goals for both the company and individual teams?
The complexity and uncertainty of navigating the healthcare ecosystem is something we can all relate to, even our employees. As both employees and as healthcare consumers, we rally behind our mission to unlock health outcomes by making guidance and advocacy accessible to all because we too want a simpler, better healthcare experience. Your mission is your company’s purpose, and for us at Rightway, we’re in a unique position to do good by making a difference for employers and their employees across the country.
What aspect of your company culture or values most reflects the company mission?
As a company that focuses on better benefits for employees, we knew that we needed to practice what we preach. We’ve simplified the benefits experience for our team by providing the tools we include in our client ecosystem to our employees. Additionally, we saw the inherent value in investing in our employees through providing flexible time off and unique benefits such as student loan help and even a pet insurance program. We knew early on that solid company culture is based on happy and healthy employees, and we are always striving to enhance our benefits offerings.
What role do your team members play in building, strengthening or celebrating your company mission?
At Rightway, our goal is to drive healthcare value for everyone, everywhere. To do this, we need a workforce that is representative of the members we serve. We are proud of the unique team we have built and to support an inclusive environment where employees feel empowered to share their experiences and ideas.
We’ve encouraged our team to create a variety of employee resource groups, including groups for women, people of color and allies, mental health advocacy. Building this culture and knowledge base enables us to provide meaningful and tailored services to our clients and members. It also allows us to collaborate as a team to continually solve problems internally and externally. We are committed to advancing these efforts not only for ourselves but for the industry.
We rally behind our mission to unlock transformational health outcomes by making guidance and advocacy accessible to all.”
TangoRx Solutions is a healthtech company that partners with with Federally Qualified Health Centers, safety-net community hospitals and other 340B providers.
As a team leader, how do you translate tangoRx Solutions’ mission into specific actions or goals for both the company and individual teams?
Our mission is “building healthier communities through partnerships by improving health equity and expanding access to care.” Executing our mission is preeminent for every team member, as their work has profound health and quality-of-life implications in our communities. This is exemplified by the nature of the work that we do: delivering innovative solutions to democratize care. Being purpose-driven is a key criterion in a good cultural addition at tangoRx. Talented and passionate individuals who strive to make a material change in our healthcare system go through their self-selection process when they decide to join the team.
In the selection process of company goals for the year, leadership was mindful of our mission and vision and created goals that were focused on earning the love and trust of customers, establishing partnerships, and fostering a culture of smart growth and collaboration. Our employees implement actionable steps in these goals by continuous education and certification opportunities in the 340B space, advocacy dedication, and internal involvement in employee resource groups.
What aspect of your company culture or values most reflects the company mission?
All of our company values are manifestations of who we are as individuals and how we operate as a collective team, in support of delivering on our mission and vision. We provide a set of complex pharmacy services that must operate adequately for the healthcare organizations that we serve to fulfill the needs of their patients and communities. To accomplish our work and deliver on our mission, we must always be accountable for the work we produce, operate in a collaborative team fashion, provide full transparency to our clients and lead with gratitude for the opportunity to make a difference.
What role do your team members play in building, strengthening or celebrating your company mission?
Our team lives and breathes mission, but is also empowered to have an impact and voice on the direction of the organization. We are constantly collaborating as a company and evolving our culture. We hold onsite department meetings, monthly company meetings, regular team events, and weekly manager and direct one-on-ones. We also give employees the opportunity to be involved in five focused employee resource groups. Our talented and passionate employees are our most valuable assets, driving our family-like and inclusive culture.
Our team lives and breathes mission, but is also empowered to have an impact and voice on the direction of the organization.”
