The Umbrella Model: Building Company Culture Through Values, Mission, and People

What if your team could rally around a shared purpose—even when times get tough?

For many business owners, the real challenge isn't having values or a mission. The problem is building a strong business culture and translating these abstract concepts into tangible practices your people can live out every day.

You may think you have your culture figured out, but without a clear organizational framework, things will fall apart.

At Whirks, we’ve worked with businesses that had great values written on their walls but still faced stalled projects, daily miscommunication, missed goals, and frustrated teams.

Why? Because values, mission, and people weren’t aligned.

In this article, we’ll explain a powerful visualization that can help transform your business leadership approach to build a thriving business that withstands challenges and drives sustainable growth. It’s called the Umbrella Model.

What is the Umbrella Model?

We all know what an umbrella does physically: it keeps you dry when it rains and provides shade on sunny days. But in business, the Umbrella Model represents an operational framework that forms the basis for how leaders keep their teams safe, encourage them to thrive, and hold them accountable.

Our business Umbrella Model consists of three essential parts broken down into six interconnected sections:

1. Values = The structural foundation
2. Direction = Mission + Vision + Goals
3. People = Roles + Expectations

Let’s take a look at how this framework can transform your business and create a culture where everyone understands their purpose and path.

Part 1: Build a Solid Foundation for Your Business with Core Values

Your company values clarify how your business will conduct activities to achieve the vision—they represent your core principles and behaviors that matter most. Ideally, these values form the foundation of a culture built on teamwork, excellence, dignity, and respect.

Think of values as the ribs of your umbrella that give your company structure. Values are more than decorative statements on your wall or coffee mugs. They must be intertwined in everything your company does—from hiring the right people to achieving your overall vision.

What is your story and what traits and values make you who you are today? It doesn't matter where you came from; what really matters is what you do now. Installing the Umbrella Model into your business begins with solidifying this foundation of core values.

Values that Whirk!

At Whirks, our values provide the structure for everything we do:

• Own It: 100% responsible and accountable for our actions and decisions
• Challenge It: The status quo is never OK!
• Team First: Positive attitudes, fun, and humor in everything we do
• Empathy for Others: Trying to walk in another person's shoes
• Passion for Purpose: Invested in the end-goal and motivated to get there

Need help identifying your values? Download our free worksheet to get started.

Once you’ve established your values, you can move to the next crucial element: Direction.

Part 2: Set the Direction for Where Your Business is Going with Mission, Vision, and Goals

Any good journey begins with clear planning about where you’re going and when you’ll arrive. Half of the umbrella is dedicated to the mission, vision and goals of the business. These become the covering that protects your team from the storms.

When you define your direction components, you provide a compass for your organization and give your most valuable asset—your people—a clearly defined path:

• Mission: Declares your purpose and who you serve
• Vision: Inspirational summary of the expected outcomes when your mission is complete
• Goals: Internal milestones that your employees genuinely care about

As a leader, it’s essential to keep your team informed about what lies ahead and convey a sense of confidence and strength. Clear mission, vision, and goals allow each employee to fully grasp where the company is going and rally behind the work required to get there.

With your values providing structure and your direction setting the course and protecting your team, your umbrella now needs its final critical component—the people who will bring these elements to life.

Part 3: Align People With Your Mission Through Clear Roles and Expectations

The Umbrella Model is secured when you add the final piece—people. Great leaders let their teams know what winning looks like for each role, for each person, and for the company as a whole. It’s all about transparent and effective communication.

People have unique requirements that demand special attention, skills, and empathy. The final step in completing your umbrella is to review your people strategy:

• Employee Roles: Each role should clearly contribute to the overall mission and goals of the organization.
• Team Expectations: Team members should know what their leaders count on them to do. Expectations should be written in an outcome-based format instead of a job task list.

When you set clear expectations for each key role, you help employees understand what’s required of them, what they can delegate, and how they can be successful.

Building Foundational and Future Success with a Strong Company Culture

The Umbrella Model has evolved from a simple visualization to a powerful business framework that provides structure and foundation for all operations. Businesses that lack this clarity often struggle with misaligned teams and uncertain direction.

Savvy businesses use this opportunity to strive for improvement by clarifying their umbrella components. And this foundation will be what separates thriving companies from those merely surviving.

Here's how to move forward:

1. Solidify your core values to give your team a firm foundation to launch from.
2. Define your mission, vision, and goals and communicate them clearly so your team buys into where you’re headed.
3. Explain your expectations and roles to help team members see where they contribute, holding them accountable to a winning standard.

When we do these things consistently, everyone wins.

Not sure where to start? We’ve put together a simple worksheet that walks you through defining your values—just like we do for our clients. Grab your free copy here.

Want a partner to walk you through it? Check out our People Services.