Beyond Semantics: Mission and Vision as Strategic Force (Michelle Franklin)

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In this episode of Culture Change Rx, Sue Tetzlaff engaged in conversation with Michelle Franklin, CEO of Sullivan County Community Hospital in Sullivan, Indiana, to discuss the importance of mission, vision, and values in the context of a community hospital. They explore how these elements evolve over time, particularly in response to organizational growth and community needs. Michelle shares insights from her experience as CEO, emphasizing the significance of engaging stakeholders in the process and ensuring that the mission and vision are actively lived and communicated within the organization and the community.

• While an organization’s mission, vision, and values don’t change often, they do need to evolve with the organization.
• Engaging stakeholders in the revision process is crucial.
• Behavior standards should be updated alongside mission, vision, and values changes.
• Organizational identity should reflect current capabilities and future aspirations.
• Regular reflection on mission and vision can drive organizational excellence.

We’re stepping forward in a bigger way—growing our team of rural healthcare experts, growing our capabilities by adding a strategic planning division … all of this so we can expand our ability to help even more rural hospitals and other small healthcare organizations in 2026. … We’d love to explore how we can support your organization in being the provider- and employer-of-choice so you can keep care local and margins strong! Learn more at CaptoneLeadership.net

Hi! I’m Sue Tetzlaff. I’m a culture and execution strategist for small and rural healthcare organizations - helping them to be the provider and employer-of-choice so they can keep care local and margins strong.

For decades, I’ve worked with healthcare organizations to navigate the people-side of healthcare, the part that can make or break your results. What I’ve learned is this: culture is not a soft thing. It’s the hardest thing, and it determines everything.

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