Get Your Mission Right
April 6th, 2009
Most business owners know they need a mission statement, but having one doesn’t guarantee success. In fact many are so massaged they say nothing. If you’re developing a mission statement, keep these ideas in mind:
• Make sure the mission is clear. If staff can’t remember it, or express it in their own words, they can’t act on it. Keep it simple.
• Help staff understand how their jobs help fulfill the missions. Make sure your team can express in their own words how they can and will support the mission.
• Track your progress towards the mission. Set objectives directly linked to fulfilling the mission, and measure progress along the way.
• Regularly re-visit the mission. Make sure it still expresses who you are. Avoid the urge to tinker with words. Changing the mission means a change of direction.
• Make sure the mission has staying power. If you are constantly changing the mission statement you may be too focused on high level goals. Look longer-term and ask if you are setting clear achievable goals for staff which support the mission.
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