Seven S’s of Organizational Sustainability

Ready to rise to your highest potential?

How can you stay present, supportive (to yourself and others), and connected by organizational purpose and service?

    Here at Flourish Today, we use and teach the Seven S’s of Organizational Sustainability.

    This structure is critical to strengthen awareness, agree on shared purpose, and refine strategies that shift perceived challenges into pure potential.

    The journey to organizational sustainability is dynamic. It’s a game of constant reflection, adaptation, and commitment to your mission and purpose. The following Seven S’s of Organizational Sustainability are guides to navigate challenges and opportunities with clarity and intention.

     Be → Do → Have. The first 2 S’s are about being: committed to a shared mission and dedicated to service. The next 3 involve doing: showing support, providing clarity, and sharing power to build organizational resilience. The last two reveal what we have by building on the first 5: a solid strategy for long-term growth and team engagement. A collective strength that faces any issue with calm solutions. And an organization that uplifts its people and those being served.

• S #1 • Steadfast to the Mission: When we’re unified in movement, everyone’s focus/attention goes in the same direction. There’s no division of power and resources. The mission is the mantra. And the mission includes input from all levels of the organization. We become stronger as voices and perspectives are heard and honored.

   

• S #2 • Service Is Our Purpose: Aligned in purpose means we deepen the strength of the frame and refine the paradigm of how our team members move individually and collectively. The purpose must be clear and meaningful so the team passionately buys in. We can wake up every day excited to be with our team, driven by how we impact lives during our workday. Since the majority of our time is spent at work, let’s cultivate a field of potential, care, and dedication that supports everyone in revealing their best.

   

• S #3 • Support Yields Opportunity: As we support each other, practice active listening and empathy, we show up in impactful ways for our clients, members, communities, and stakeholders. Together, we nurture the seeds so opportunities can bloom brightly. We can offer transformational support during meetings and in one-on-one conversations by gently stepping back to see what our colleagues need in the moment. Clarity, compassion, coaching, encouragement? As leaders, we stop and contemplate what we would need to thrive.

   

• S #4 • Safety in Clarity: Our sense of safety is reinforced by clear communication and mutual agreements. When we’re all on the same page, we feel safe to speak up, share our opinions and talents, and have long-lasting impact through our authenticity. As agreements are made, follow up immediately and make sure the entire team is aware. Ask what tools they need to own their part of the agreement and get excited about accountability and results.

   

• S #5 • Security From Power: We harness collective power by leveraging our team members’ unique skills and experiences. As we integrate the first 4 S’s, our market share and impact grow. Our foundation becomes unshakeable. What we give our attention to grows, so we recognize and elevate the unique strengths and passions of our team members. As they feel grounded and cared for, our core competencies and responsiveness solidify. We can face any challenge proactively with calm assurance of positive outcomes.

   

• S #6 • Strategy Solidifies the Architecture of Forward Movement: A strategy grounded in consensus and safety paves the runway that gives rise to innovative inspiration. We can adapt and deliver more swiftly, giving form to our future. Our team members operating on the cutting edge have the space they need to implement successful solutions and ambitious deliverables. Communicate the strategy and invite the team to ask questions. Stay open to shifting if needed. Ask them how they inform the strategy, what excites them about it. Be clear on which strategic components they own and identify (and celebrate) success metrics.

   

• S #7 • Strengthened Through Challenges: Diamonds form under constant pressure. The most beautiful and rewarding outcomes are the result of growing pains. Every lesson and challenge is like resistance training for our highest potential: a healthy organizational culture. We all want to show up for work excited, supported, and ultimately making a difference. Invite your team to take inventory about what makes their work environment safe, fun, and satisfying. Ask them to come up with five things they’re grateful for about their role and five accomplishments they want to celebrate. By making this short list, their resilience takes center stage.