The First Janitor in Space

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The First Janitor in Space

November 19th, 2008

There is a famous story about President John F. Kennedy’s first visit to NASA’s headquarters back in 1961. While touring the facility, the President’s entourage came upon a man who was mopping the floor in one of the hallways. The President stopped to chat with the man and asked him what he did at NASA. The janitor addressed the young President by saying, “Sir, I’m helping to put a man on the moon!”

This story illustrates the idea that everyone at NASA, regardless of his or her position, was contributing toward the ultimate mission of the organization. Is the same true in your company or organization?

Rather than treating team members or departments as “cogs in a bigger machine,” allow them to share in the mission of the company (what we refer to as its “Brand Vision”). The first step in building this camaraderie and getting buy-in from everyone in the organization is to share how your Brand Vision was arrived at, what it means to your customer, and why it is meaningful, unique and true. Then, turn your employees and departments loose in determining how they can contribute to the expression of the Brand Vision, and ultimately, how they can surprise and delight customers through fulfillment of the Brand Vision.

Is knowing the mission of the organization is to put a man on the moon going to affect how a janitor mops a floor? Who knows? But just the fact that he felt a part of that mission surely paid benefits to NASA in some form, probably in a way that NASA management couldn’t have imagined.

The same can be true for just about any forward-thinking organization. Allowing employees and departments to determine for themselves how they can meaningfully bring the organization’s Brand Vision to life in their day-to-day dealings will unleash a collective creativity that will be inspiring to witness. Rewarding ideas and initiatives developed by staff, and sharing successes with all in your organization, are excellent ways management can perpetuate the growth and consistency of the Brand Vision.

Posted by Mickey