How to Build a Mission Statement
What is a Mission Statement?
A mission statement is a clear and concise summary of your purpose and priorities. It’s the map by which you make decisions and a compass to keep you on the road to success. It’s a critical part of building a life of purpose, accountability, and fulfillment.
While many organizations use mission statements as a guideline for how they practice business, individuals can use personal mission statements to find their own sense of purpose, and families can use them to define and live by their values.
The most powerful mission statements are both memorable and practical—you can turn to them for guidance in crisis or for help during tough times. They address the most important aspects of your life and represent the best in you or your organization.
A mission statement is an action-based statement that is generally short and succinct—between one to three sentences.
Why Create a Mission Statement?
It is so easy to lose focus during the day. Your most important work—whether that’s business strategies or spending time with your children—can sometimes get lost in the shuffle. Having a check point or rest stop during the day can help you refocus on the most important. Mission statements are that rest stop. Those words can motivate and inspire teams and customers, aid in strategic planning, and guide organizations towards clear goals for growth and development.
Having a firm grasp on your purpose, who you are and what you stand for, is essential for personal and industrial growth. The hardest part is putting it on paper. That’s where we want to help!
How To Create a Mission Statement
When writing a mission statement, you don’t just put down the first thing that comes to mind and call it good. It takes time. It requires careful reflection about yourself and what matters most to you, your family, or your team.
Your mission statement should:
- Be based on principles of effectiveness.
- Clarify what is important to you—consider your deepest values.
- Provide direction and purpose.
- Address the most important aspects of your organization or life.
- Represent the best in you.
A mission statement should be revised and polished until it is exact and true.
Once you have it, refer to it often and let it serve as a reminder of who you are and what your purpose is. Adapt it as needed, but always be sure it’s grounded in honest principles and authentic ambitions.
A mission statement isn’t just for corporations. Individuals, families, and teams all have unique and specific goals. So, all of them deserve a unique mission statement. Just be sure it reflects what really matters most to you and the people involved. What type of mission statement do you need to craft?
Ready to Start Your Mission Statement?
A mission statement is a clear and concise summary of your purpose, priorities, and things you need to do each day to reach your goals. Defining it can lend powerful direction to your work, your family, and your life. Now let’s put it all into your own words.
Identify your passions, values, and what you want out of life.
Set your team or organization up for success by defining its mission.
Define what matters most to your family.