Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella emphasized that every great company has an enduring mission. He reiterated that Microsoft aims to make a difference in the world by building best-in-class platforms and productivity services.
In an e-mail to Microsoft employees, Nadella announced the official mission statement of the company: “Our mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.”
Last year, Nadella told employees that he would reshape core ambitions and culture of Microsoft. According to him, the company’s new focus is to define itself as a productivity and platform company for the mobile-first and cloud-first world.
At the time, Nadella said their goal is to “reinvent productivity to empower every person and organization on the planet to do more and achieve more.”
Nadella reiterated this mission and made it official in his latest e-mail to employees.
Microsoft care about making a difference
Nadella emphasized that Microsoft’s mission is ambitious and it is the center of what customers deeply care about. He also pointed out that they “can do magical things if they come together with a shared mission, clear strategy, and a culture that brings out the best” in them, individually and collectively.
Nadella believes that Microsoft has a unique capability in harmonizing the needs of individuals and organization. “This is our DNA. We also care about taking things global and making a difference in lives and organizations in all corners of the planet.”
According to Nadella, Microsoft’s business transformation is designed to enable the company and its customers to thrive in this world. The company’s worldview is centered on mobility experiences within the mobile-first, cloud-first world.
Microsoft to invest in three interconnected ambitions
Nadella reiterated that Microsoft’s strategy was to build best-in-class platforms and productivity services for the mobile-first, cloud-first world. According to him, the company’s platforms will “harmonize the interests of en-users, developers and IT better than any competing ecosystem or platform.”
Nadella said Microsoft would achieve its mission and strategy bu investing in three interconnected and bold ambitions.
1. Reinvent productivity and business processes
2. Build the intelligent cloud platform
3. Create more personal computing
“These ambitions utilize a unique set of assets that span productivity services, a cloud platform, our device platform and our family of devices. There is an explicit path dependence on how we achieve the “inter-connectedness” between the various elements of our strategy to gain momentum,” said Nadella.
Nadella fundamentally believes that Microsoft needs a culture founded in a growth mindset. It should start with the belief that everyone can grow and develop, the potential is nurtured not predetermined, and anyone can change their mindset.
“Leadership is about bringing out the best in people, where everyone is bringing their A-game and finding deep meaning in their work. We need to be always learning and insatiably curious,” said Nadella
He added,”We need to be willing to lean into uncertainty, take risks and move quickly when we make mistakes, recognizing failure happens along the way to mastery. And we need to be open to the ideas of others, where the success of others does not diminish our own.”
Microsoft needs to make tough decisions
Furthermore, Nadella believes that Microsoft’s culture is not static. It is evolving everyday based on the behavior of every person in the company. He pointed out that company is in an incredible position to seize new growth this year.
According to him, Microsoft’s work around Windows is an example of the company’s culture in action. He emphasized the they “approached Windows 10 with a growth mindset and obsession for customers.” He invited employees to volunteer some of their time to help users upgrade to Windows 10 starting on July 29.
Moreover, Nadella said Microsoft needs to innovate in new areas, execute against plans, make some tough decisions in areas where things are not working, and solve difficult problems. Perhaps one of the tough decisions executed by the company was the recent shake up of its leadership team
