How To Create A Mission Statement
By: Denise O'Berry
Creating a mission statement can help you focus your business effort and do a lot of good in bringing your workforce together behind a common theme. The key to success is not just creating a mission statement, it's living the mission statement.
A mission statement identifies the major purpose that you fulfill in providing products and services to customers. Your mission statement should:
Step One -- Develop your mission statement by identifying:
Stakeholders - Those people who are directly affected by the company's successes and failures. Stakeholders could be employees, internal customers, organizational customers, external customers.
Products and Services - Items that you produce for your customers. Products and services might include consulting, training, products or services for individual use, products or services for business use.
Value Added - The key advantage you provide over the competition. Why would a customer come to your company for service? What makes your company special?
Step Two -- Construct A First Draft
The [your company name] meets the [your products and services] needs of [stakeholders] by [value added].
Step Three -- Refine the Mission Statement
Is it too wordy? Is it brief and to the point? Will employees remember it? Would it make sense to your stakeholders? Is it a true mission statement and not a goal? Does it inspire your organization? Does it describe your business focus and effort? Is it unique?
Step Four -- Make It Visible
Post the mission statement for easy review by all employees and customers.
Step Five -- Live it! This step will be easy if you've involved your entire group in the process.
