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A mission statement lets those who come in contact with your company know the function and purposes of the organization in a few inspirational and clear sentences. The process of developing a the mission statement helps entrepreneurs reconnect with goals of the organization, and helps build consensus and alignment among staff.
It is critical to involve all key members of your organization from the beginning of the process. Hold a meeting or mini retreat to brainstorm. Find out where your staff sees the organization is going, and what it's purpose is. You may be surprised to find that there is an established vision of the organization that's different from your own.
Take a break, and then return to write a draft together. Keep in mind that a good mission statement not only clearly communicates the purpose of your organization, it must also inspire.
Perhaps the hardest part of writing a mission statement is keeping it concise. Trying to put everything into just three or four sentences can be a frustrating job. As you create the rough draft, look to see if an idea is repeated over and over. If it is, use that idea in one solid sentence. If two sentences need to be combined, then do it. Be as clear as possible.
If you have no idea how a mission statement is put together, examine mission statements from other companies for the language and tone. However tempting, don't adopt another company's mission as your own. Your mission statement must be unique to your company. It needs to incorporate the voices of your staff.
Writing a mission statement can be an intimidating process, but with practice it can be done. |
