In a 2006 interview with USA Today, Israel Gaither, the national commander for the Salvation Army, offered some advice on how to instill employees with a sense of mission.

Here are some of Gaither's tips:

• Begin the day with prayer.
• Organizations involve humans, and humans sometimes falter. Leaders should pick up those who have fallen, but also have the option to fire them.
• Serving leadership is active leadership, not a mantra.
• Guard against mission creep. Be courageous to say no.

During the course of the interview, Gaither was asked about his first tip: "Can it be that simple? Can everyone stay out of trouble with a morning prayer?"

He answered: "I serve in a world weakened by sin. That's the context in which I serve, and I have to ask God to protect me—my mind, my thinking, and my behavior. Is that the path to help an organization do what is right? Yeah, I think that's the way to do it."