STATE YOUR MISSION
Posted on May 11, 2017 by Chris Costello, One of Thousands of Business Coaches on Noomii.
Want to know the secrets to writing an effective Mission Statement? Follow my advice and you can have a clear and powerful Mission Statement...
Everyone’s familiar with the idea of a Mission Statement. Most of us casually view them as important PR statements within the business world. What less people realize is why they are so important. In just a sentence or two, a business should clearly and effectively define its brand, goals and values. The most effective modern mission statements for American companies are between just 10 and 25 words. Somehow they are still able to cover key elements of a business and what it aims to accomplish.
The secret to crafting a solid Mission Statement is remembering that less is more. Too wordy and people don’t lock in on the message, or it comes across convoluted. Alternatively, too vague and you risk that possibly nothing is communicated. So choose your words with care. Start with a rough draft and try to cut it down as though Twitter reduced you to 25 characters. Eventually, you can simplify it enough so that the message is strong and your mission statement can serve as a guiding principle for you and your team/employees.
So, what makes a good Mission Statement? There are really only three things you need to focus on. 1). Who is your customer – do you have a clearly defined target market? 2). What is it that your company does? Make sure you indicate what type of good or service you provide. 3). What makes your offering unique or of value?
Your Mission Statement is a seemingly simple step, but just because it might sound obvious doesn’t mean it can be skipped. It can serve as a guide for customers, shareholders and employees. As the business grows, a Mission Statement can help ensure your team is moving in the same direction.
Once you have a Mission Statement, you’ll be in position to get into more detail with a Vision Statement. Basically, now that you know where your going (M.S.) the Vision Statement can illuminate the path toward that destination. Envisioning the journey is a great way to be prepared for what’s likely to come. And being more mentally prepared will lead to greater overall success.
So, make it your mission to brainstorm what best summarizes the goals and values of your business. If you can stick to my advice of short and sweet, you’ll save yourself a lot of trouble. Leave room for the Vision Statement. You’ll have plenty of space there to explain in detail what’s in store for you and your business! The next thing you know, you’ll have an Executive Summary prepared for your business plan…but that’s a blog for another day.
