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    Create your mission statement

    Companies often manage daily operations within the framework of established principles, responding to immediate demands rather than proactively steering their own course.

    By Bella Milo and Colleen Spiegel

    29 June 2024

    Image featuring a businessman uses a marker to depict a success concept, highlighting the significance of developing a mission statement.
    In the fast-paced world of business, many companies operate like a leaf drifting through a stream, being carried by the currents of market trends and competition. This is a natural state for any organization, shaped by the circumstances and values imparted by its founders and leaders. Companies often manage daily operations within the framework of established principles, responding to immediate demands rather than proactively steering their own course. However, every organization has a unique purpose for its existence. Unfortunately, many businesses struggle to define or understand their core focus beyond daily operations. Amid the hustle and bustle of corporate life,it’s easy to lose sight of this purpose. It often takes significant events or shifts in the market to prompt a reevaluation of business routines. Many organizations start with grand visions, which, though they may not directly align with their ultimate purpose, often hint at underlying goals connected to their mission

    Create a Mission Statement

    To navigate with clarity, intention, and fulfillment, it is essential for a business to create a mission statement. A mission statement provides a framework for strategic decisions and daily operations. Every company needs a purpose, regardless of its size or industry. Consider the myriad of businesses involved in creating everyday products like cars, coffee makers, or computers. Each of these companies plays a role in a larger ecosystem, contributing to the creation of items that millions of people use daily. Imagine the impact if all these organizations operated with a clear mission.

    The experiences and expertise that have shaped your organization culminate in its unique mission. This mission should reflect your company’s strengths, values, and areas of enjoyment. It should articulate your organization’s essence and ambitions, summarized in one to two sentences for clarity and focus. This clarity will not only guide internal decision-making but also communicate to external stakeholders what your organization stands for.

    What Should a Mission Statement Include?

    A compelling mission statement should resonate with the company, inspire its team, and motivate stakeholders. It should encapsulate the essence of the business and its aspirations. A mission statement must inspire commitment and courage, serving as a guide for long-term efforts. It should answer three fundamental questions

    1. What is our purpose? What do we aim to help, address, or contribute to?

    2. How will we fulfill this purpose? What actions or strategies will we employ?

    3. What principles or beliefs guide our mission? What core values underpin our efforts?

    To begin this process, brainstorm words, ideas, thoughts, and beliefs related to your business. Write them all down without editing. Each thought can spur further insights and reflections, providing a rich pool of ideas from which your mission statement can be crafted

    Start with a General Statement

    Your mission statement should provide enough specificity to focus your goals and activities while being broad enough to allow for flexibility in execution. It distinguishes your organization from others and provides a framework for evaluating your business strategies and daily operations. The mission statement should be clear enough that it guides decisions but flexible enough to adapt to changing circumstances
    Start with a template such as:

    “Our mission is to___________________________________________”

    Most missions align with broad categories such as:

    • People
    • Children
    • Environment
    • Animals
    • Religion
    • Higher Power
    • Family
    • Elderly
    • Education
    • Industry
    • Technology
    • Values
    • Beliefs
    If your mission is unclear, select three categories that resonate most with your organization to help focus your thinking. These broad categories can help anchor your mission in a larger context, ensuring that it is relevant and impactful

    Add Some Details

    Your mission statement does not need to cover all activities or aspects of your business. It should outline the general direction of your efforts. This direction does not exclude other responsibilities or roles within the company. It is perfectly acceptable for the mission statement to be broad in scope, providing a general direction that guides strategic initiatives and daily tasks.
    To add detail to your mission statement, consider sub-categories related to your chosen broad categories:
    • Automobiles
    • Art
    • Fashion
    • Architecture
    • Photography
    • Business
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Finance
    • Personal Finance
    • Computers
    • Health and Fitness
    • Humor
    • Literary
    • Music
    • News
    • Science Fiction
    • Home Design
    • Gardening
    • Science/History
    • Sports
    • Religion
    Identify the top three values that are most important to your organization:
    • Honesty
    • Love
    • Peace
    • Freedom
    • Cooperation
    • Tolerance
    • Happiness
    • Humility
    • Respect
    • Responsibility
    Combining your broad categories with specific interests and core values will help you formulate a comprehensive mission statement. Draft it now, even if it feels imperfect. The process itself will stimulate deeper thinking and refinement. This iterative process helps ensure that the final mission statement is both meaningful and actionable.

    Practical Assignment

    To put these concepts into practice, complete the following assignment to help solidify your organization’s mission statement:

    1. Brainstorming Session:

    • Gather your team for a brainstorming session
    • Write down words, ideas, thoughts, and beliefs related to your business purpose. Don't edit or filter during this stage.

    2. Categorize Your Ideas:

    • Organize your brainstorming results into broad categories such as people, environment, education, etc.
    • Choose three categories that resonate most with your organization.

    3. Identify Core Values:

    • Reflect on the values that are most important to your company.
    • Select the top three values that will guide your mission.

    4. Draft Your Mission Statement:

    • Using the template “Our mission is to ________________________,” draft a mission statement that incorporates your chosen categories and values.
    • Ensure it is concise, clear, and inspiring.

    5. Review and Refine:

    • Share the draft with key stakeholders and gather feedback.
    • Refine the mission statement based on the feedback to ensure it aligns with your company's purpose and goals.

    6. Implementation:

    • Integrate the mission statement into your company’s strategic planning and daily operations.
    • Regularly review and update the mission statement as your company evolves.

    Conclusion

    In a competitive business landscape filled with distractions and noise, crafting a mission statement provides clarity, direction, and purpose. By defining your unique mission and setting clear intentions, you empower your organization to operate with meaning and fulfillment. Reflect on your purpose, envision your strategic goals, and chart a course toward a brighter future. When businesses operate with a clear mission, they not only achieve greater success but also contribute positively to the world.

    Embrace change, reflect on your mission, and let it guide your journey of corporate growth and impact. Every action your organization takes has a ripple effect, influencing the broader market and society. Aligning your actions with your mission transforms your company into an agent of positive change, driving success and innovation.By investing the time to develop and refine your mission statement, you lay the foundation for a resilient and purpose-driven organization.

    This mission statement will not only guide your internal operations but also serve as a beacon to attract like-minded partners, employees, and customers who resonate with your values and vision. The power of a well-crafted mission statement lies in its ability to inspire and mobilize your organization towards shared goals, fostering a culture of alignment and purpose.