True North, the Key to your Business Success

True North is a term wherein a ship decides to pursue a path that is somewhat different from the magnetic north. Implicit in the definition is that True North represents the true direction ultimately the absolute, correct path to charter.

Reason being is that True North is like a moral compass, it helps define and remind everyone of a key set of goals and principles, its charter, ethics, work culture that guides the very existence of the business. It influences strategic discussions and tactics like; hiring ethos, what features to build, which markets to enter, how to differentiate, opportunities that should be discarded, and deciding on which investors and strategic partners to align with. They help in resolving high conflict situations such as, whether to grow at the expense of profitability or vice-versa, product roadmaps, competitive differentiation and alignment around purpose, making employees work more personal to them, more impactful, more empowering.

The phenomenon helps in every area of daily activity, and then more. True North helps in hiring the right people, usually through a process of self-selection, by which businesses attract people that identify and align with its own goals and aspirations.

True North goes further than your business, it is essential for you as a leader to be really authentic, to discover your True North too. According to Harvard Business School professor and author Bill George discovering your True North is about following your internal compass. When you find your True North, you discover your authentic self. It’s a combination of your purpose and your beliefs. You decide what you value most in life and put that at the forefront. Once you’re aware of this inner sense, you’re one step closer to answering your calling.

Your True North is unique to you. No matter how similar they are, no two people will have the same True North. It represents you as a person on your deepest level. When leaders find the ‘sweet spot’ of motivation that is their True North, they will be able to work toward goals and help their team grow.

The relationship between leaders and team members is based on trust. Just as a leader trusts their team to complete their jobs efficiently, team members must believe they have an ethical leader. They need to feel that their leader has integrity and is wholly committed to inspiring and empowering them. Decisions made that are in conflict with True North cause confusion among stakeholders at a minimum and can be disruptive to organisational alignment. For example, short-term pressures may cause management to make a choice, which is inconsistent with the defined True North, but may produce a projected near-term financial gain. Such decisions generally result in longer-term harm, outweighing the short-term gain. Clearing these obstacles are fundamental to development of strategy that is in line with the company raison d'être.

But before you can really make a positive change in your business, you should start with an inward reflection of yourself. Put simply, to take care of others, start by taking care of yourself. The clarity that comes with finding your own True North is the first step towards empowering others. When you have a clear sense of direction, you are better equipped to help others find their own True North.

Finding your True North can be a lengthy and somewhat draining process. Be kind to yourself by having self-compassion and try not to rush the process. Don’t put pressure on yourself to have a lightbulb moment that will suddenly have you on the straight and narrow to inner guidance. Finding your True North as well as acting based on your intrinsic principles is an ongoing affair. While finding your True North is a personal journey that only you can take, those close to you can help you realise what aspects of your life allow for a truly meaningful life. Perhaps you could start this journey by writing a personal vision statement that describes your values, your strengths, and your goals.

When leaders find their True North, they have passion for the company’s mission and values and they have the ability to empower others through compassion and empathy.

Establish your True North early and then firmly ingrain it inside each person and every square foot of your organisation. Consistently reinforce this belief system amongst internal and external stakeholders to a point where the entire ecosystem simply cannot separate you from this belief system and core ideals. it will, in due course, out your ship firmly on course for reaching its destined goals.