How to Write a Mission Statement

Writing a company mission statement will help you and your employees focus on a common goal and give everyone a benchmark to gauge performance.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pens
• Spiral Notebooks
• Pens

1. Include everybody whose perception of your company matters. Collect as many ideas as you can.

2. Define your company. Think carefully about what role it plays in the industry and community.

3. State the things to which you're dedicated. Are you dedicated to quality, your customers, your success?

4. Assess the value of your product. Use written questionnaires to poll your customers, suppliers, strategic partners and other external parties about the benefits of and ideals behind your product.

5. Set up a small committee to go through the ideas you have collected and incorporate them into your company's mission statement.

6. Give the mission statement high visibility; post it in the lobby and halls. People will see it every day and be reminded of what their work means.

Tips & Warnings

• Live your mission statement every day. In order to gain credibility with your employees, customers and vendors, you must practice what you preach.
• Be realistic. Set standards that are reasonable and reachable by you and your employees.

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[Zamundaman]

on 9/19/2008 What a generous statement! Very impressive. However, I sense contradiction; correct me if I am wrong. How can you "promote ethical behavior" when you are ready to "offer help if needed instead of judgement"? I am a little confused here.

[intechs]

on 5/20/2008 In some cases corporate culture defines the mission statement is.

[BillyBiggs]

on 1/12/2008 Too often they end up becoming just another fixture on the wall. However some of the greatest organizations are defined by their mission statement. It is a powerful document when embraced so start with a personal mission statement. Here is mine.

Mission Statement
My mission is to achieve personal happiness and
success by improving the lives of my family, friends,
and colleagues. I will promote ethical behaviors by
following a personal commitment to honesty and
integrity. When I make choices I will be guided by
what is right and I will choose what is best. Not the easiest. I will live my life as if I was viewed as role
model to all. I will be understanding of others and
offer help if needed instead of judgment.
I will give more than I take

[cnafornow]

on 8/11/2007 Mission statements can and often do take on a life of their own. They end up becoming eloquent words on paper and over time, are regarded by management as 'badges of honor'. Then, these managers hide behind them like shields. I have read many mission statements over the years. What they say, and what goes on behind company doors have nothing in common with each other. In the health care industry, where decisions are often made on behalf of certain individuals that don't always have an immediate voice, I believe this bait and switch mentally should be considered as a type of treason.

on 11/22/2005 What is the use of any mission statement if it doesn't address the goals to be achieved in the future? The history and current projects are OK, but you need to specify what you intend to do in the future to be credible to potential investors & employees.