Characteristics
High-performance organizations:

• Know where they're going.
• Have leaders who set clear purpose and direction at all levels.
• Ensure everyone has a vivid understanding of where the enterprise is heading.

Source of purpose and direction
The source of this powerful sense of direction emerges from:

• A compelling vision statement
• A clear, concise mission statement

• The enumeration of common values held by the organization and its people

Leader's Role
Executives foster a sense of purpose by frequently, often very visibly:

• Referring to the mission, vision, and values
• Acting consistently with these ideas
• Reviewing the mission regularly to gauge the organization's progress toward its goal.

Results
The energies of all members of a high-performance organization are focused on the fulfillment of a common idea.