The Benefits of having Your Own Mission Statement

Background

During my corporate career I have had the challenge \{read opportunity\} to develop/update Mission Statements for several major corporations.

These tasks were part of these corporation’s strategic=alignment whereby they were [in many instances\} forced to refocus/re-examine/or even reconsider “the business they were in” which would often ensure their future survival, maybe regain lost market share, and accordingly ensure their future growth- good news for staff and shareholders.

Involved in these processes was the re-alignment of the employee’s roles and aspirations, and the organizations' culture to ensure there was a united integrated focus of all the corporation’s activities.

What exactly is a Mission Statement?

A Mission Statement –

Defines what line of business a corporation is in.

Why it exists

And what purpose it serves.

Every company should have a precise statement of purpose that gets people excited about what the company does and motivates them to become part of the organization.

Some examples of Mission Statements-

Tesla

“Tesla’s Mission is to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy”

Costco

“Here at Costco, we have a very straightforward, but important mission: to continually provide our members with quality goods and services at the lowest possible prices”

So, employees of these companies are through their company’s Mission Statements clearly aware of the role they play and the business that their employer is in.

Most mission statements are between one and three sentences, never exceeding 100 words. The most effective statements are typically a single succinct sentence, so keep this in mind when crafting yours.

How to write your own Mission Statement.

Step 1

Read your employer’s Mission Statement-your Mission Statement should align itself to that of your employer’s.

Step 2.

Imagine a person stops one of your existing patients in the street asks him/her about you as a stroke clinician.

The question would be as simple as” tell me about so and so? What is he/she like as a physio/OT/Speech Therapist?

Ideally the response should contain terms like “professional, knowledgeable, caring, good communicator; makes you feel at ease”. If the responses are not all that positive, this will give you an insight into areas of your work that you need to develop/strengthen.

Ideally. responses should mirror/paraphrase the properties outlined in the Company’s Mission Statement- after all the employees are the people who deliver the expectation created in their company’s Mission Statement.

Then sit and develop your own Mission Statement- it could be as simple as

“In my role as a physio at ACME Physiotherapy, I will carry out my role in a professional, respectful manner utilizing all the available facilities available at ACME so that my patients can achieve their maximum level of recovery and ongoing health”

Then what do I do? -

Frame it- Display it around your house so you see it every day- display it at your work desk Then ensure that every contact with patients is in keeping with what qualities outlined in your Mission Statement!

Live up to the expectation you have created! Get writing!