How to Write Mission Statements

A mission statement is a concise written document that uses positive language to communicate a company's values, goals and ideologies to its clients, employees or both. As a marketing tool, the mission statement is often posted in highly visible areas around the office building, such as at the reception desk, in hallways and in lounge areas.

Instructions

1. Define the company's goals and values; then select several key words and phrases to describe them. Some common key words and phrases used in mission statements include: helping, communciation, integrity, honesty, ethical, valuable, professional, teamwork, responsibility, increasing productivity and postitive thinking. Key words and phrases will depend on a company's objectives.

2. Determine which points about the company are most important to communicate. For example, the mission statement of a customer service-related business should highlight aspects of the business that will continue to widen its client base.

3. Use the selected key words and phrases to write a strong mission sentence. The mission sentence is the main heading of the mission statement that sets the foundation for the rest of the mission statement. For example, a customer service-related business might have a mission sentence similar to the following: "We use honesty and teamwork in a family-oriented environment to provide the best customer service in the industry at the most competitive rates."

4. Break out the mission sentence into individual paragraphs by key word or phrase; then write a few sentences that further clarify each of the points in keeping with the company's overall goals. In the mission sentence used above, for example, the following key words and phrases could be broken into separate sections: "Honesty and teamwork," "family-oriented environment," "best customer service in the business," "competitive rates."

5. Solicit feedback from the company's executives and managers to determine if the mission statement meets all of the desired goals. Use the feedback to refine the language and edit the document before making the mission statement official.

Tips & Warnings

• A mission statement should not exceed one to two pages in length. Brevity is key.

• Do not make the mission statement public until you are absolutely sure it communicates the company's values and goals effectively.

• Always have two or three other people proofread the document before finalizing and printing it.

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Franklin Covey