A defined objective and lofty goals are necessary for success in the corporate world. But how in the world do you, as a busy leader, find time to develop your mission statement while battling crises and juggling your duties as CEO and chief everything officer?
We understand! Nevertheless, one of the most crucial things you can do for your business is to draft a mission statement. A mission statement is more than simply a fancy word you put on your website, it’s crucial to remember that. It is the lifeblood of your business and tells the world, “This is who we are!” A committed clientele and workforce can be attained by your business by implementing your mission statement.
Yes, you still need to occasionally stop, reflect, and contemplate your genuine motivation for being in the field—even when you’re too busy killing fiery dragons in the commercial world.
Let’s look at what a mission statement is, what it means, and why it matters. We’ll then look at a few examples to inspire you as you create your own. Before you know it, you’ll be primed for even more business momentum and prosperity.
What is a mission statement?
An organization’s mission statement is a brief summary of its objectives. Businesses, both for-profit and nonprofit, frequently have mission statements.
The mission statement and brand of an organization are intertwined. It provides a framework that the business may use to develop its identity and grow its brand. This is achieved through communicating the organization’s overall goals and purpose to employees, potential business partners, clients, consumers, and the general public through a mission statement.
When you read mission statements, you’ll undoubtedly notice that they don’t usually list the company’s goods or services. In order to assist clients in achieving their objectives,
The goal statement of American Express, for example, is “Become essential to our customers by providing differentiated products and services.” As stated in their mission statement, Patagonia wants to preserve the place they call home. Creating a mission statement for your business should feel both like a starting point and an aspirational declaration.
Therefore, whether you are an established business, a startup, or somewhere in between, before you take any further steps to grow your firm, stop and think about your basic principles.
When do you need a mission statement?
A mission statement is by no means necessary, but it might be useful. Nevertheless, you might think about drafting one when you launch a company or organization or just choose to consciously “brand” oneself as you join (or return) the employment.
The following are some uses for a mission statement:
- It helps your business connect with people who share your aims by communicating your values to potential hires.
- It informs possible strategic partners of your goals.
- It provides a framework that team members and executives can use while communicating and making decisions on behalf of the company.
- It can serve as a guide for you while you establish objectives and choose the best course of action.
One professional writing skill that might help you advance your career and build your resume is creating an impactful mission statement.
This is a Step-by-Step Manual for Composing a Mission Statement:
- Describe the strengths of your business. (This is what you are.)
Avoid overanalyzing something. What is the one thing your business excels at doing? Which issues do you resolve? If there are numerous items, make a list of them before searching for a unifying theme or objective.
- Give clear examples of how your passions and guiding principles help you fulfill your purpose.
This has nothing to do with how your company runs on a daily basis. It all comes down to how you decide to carry out your mission. Do you, for instance, empower, educate, or inspire others? Do you plan, assist, or serve others? Which is more important to you, people or tasks? Owning a summer camp not only helps you provide middle school children with comfortable lodging, but it also fosters a love of the outdoors in the next generation. Don’t get too operational, but do become specific.
- Establish your goal
“Working hard for something we don’t care about is called stress; working hard for something we love is called passion,” as best-selling author and speaker Simon Sinek put it. Consider your company’s goals and the reasons behind its existence. This is the part where you give your company life.
Walmart, for instance, aims to improve people’s lives by saving them money. The goal is to improve people’s quality of life. Why does Walmart operate as a low-cost retailer of common goods like food and general merchandise? to assist clients worldwide in supporting their families so they can live better and save money. Why did Walmart design a shopping experience that offers “everyday low prices” both online and in-store? to improve people’s lives whenever and wherever possible by providing value. You understand!
- Tell them why you’re unique in the market
A mission statement is one of the most important tools you can use to help your company communicate what makes it special. Identifying who you are not is a fantastic place to start, and then you can work on what makes you unique.
Finally, when drafting your mission statement, stay away from using jargon or listing all the things your business does. Simply and concisely explain the primary point of emphasis.
It’s acceptable to go through multiple revisions before you find the perfect language. Work at it until you have the right feeling. Give it to a mentor or important team members so they can provide suggestions and assist you iron out any kinks.
Once you’ve got it down pat, put the finished version of your mission statement on paper. When you write something down, you’re more likely to follow through on your goals. This is also the time to share it with your entire staff; continue to do so, as well, to inspire, remind, and unite them in the mission and to develop momentum for your incredible firm.
You don’t need to work things out by yourself! Get your team motivated and on the same page by creating a mission statement with the help of our simple-to-use Mission Statement Mapper.
Vision versus mission statements
There is a difference between writing a mission statement and writing a vision statement. A vision statement describes the tactics an organization is employing to fulfill its mission statement, whereas a mission statement describes the organization’s overarching objectives and aspirations.