How to Create Small Group Mission Statements

A mission statement is a sentence or paragraph that describes a company's or organization's purpose. Creating a mission statement is essential to any organization, company or small group for several reasons. It lets other people know what your group is all about and it serves as a reminder to members as well. Crafting a mission statement can be done in a few simple steps.

Instructions

1. Think about what your company does. The first thing any mission statement should address is what a company or organization does, so spend some time thinking about exactly what it is your small group does. This may be easier said than done for a small group that is not a business, but it is an important part of creating a mission statement.

2. Write a rough draft of the purpose of your small group. You'll most likely go through several drafts before finalizing your mission statement, so go ahead and write something down or type something up on your computer. Since it's just a rough draft, focus on the meaning of the mission statement for now. You can always edit later.

3. Use action words in your mission statement. Now that you've got a draft, review your mission statement and insert action words wherever you can. Your mission statement will be more dynamic and inspiring if it is full of action words instead of words that do not inspire people to act.

4. Remove any unnecessary words or phrases. Your mission statement should be short and to the point. Read your mission statement several times and cross out or delete any words or phrases that can be removed without changing the overall meaning of the statement.

5. Rewrite any parts of your mission statement that contain slang or jargon. You want your mission statement to be understood by anyone who reads it and you also want your mission statement to be timeless, which means the wording will not become outdated. Remove any jargon or slang in your mission statement and use easy to understand phrases with action words instead.

6. Read your mission statement out loud. Oftentimes when you write something then read it over and over again, you miss grammatical mistakes or awkward wording. Reading your mission statement aloud will help you target any awkward phrasing and also helps you find grammatical mistakes you may have missed on previous rounds or proofing or editing.

7. Ask for input from other group members. Show your mission statement to other members of your small group and ask for their input. You want to make sure you've got the most comprehensive and effective mission statement, so ask for other people's opinions on the statement you've drafted to make sure you've achieved this.

References

• Digital-Women.com: How to Write a Mission Statement
• The Grantmanship Center: How to Write a Mission Statement