If someone were to ask Larry Page (Google’s CEO), or any employee, what it is that Google does, they could simply repeat their mission statement:
Google’s mission is to organize the world‘s information and make it universally accessible and useful.
It doesn’t get clearer or simple than that! Done and done.
Do you already have a mission statement?
Use this checklist to determine whether or not your current mission statement is actually “wall-worthy”:
- Does it clearly answer the question of why your organization exists?
- Is it time-sensitive? (It should last decades.)
- Will an outsider understand what you do?
- Does it motivate you personally?
- Will employees remember and care about this statement? (Try asking them. Your employees are valuable assets and can offer great insight.)
Do you need a (new) mission statement?
The best approach is to create a mission/purpose statement as a group with the senior leaders and stakeholders of the organization. This process is necessary for everyone to have ownership of the direction and actually make it actionable.
If you need to do it alone, take five minutes right now and create a mission statement for your organization. Don’t edit it in your mind—there is no prize for the best or most articulate mission statement. Just write what you feel in this moment, then put it away and come back to it in a few days. Need a kickstart? Answer the following questions to help guide you in creating a compelling mission statement:
- In 10 words or less, what result is your business or organization trying to achieve for its customers?
- What specific actions does your organization do to achieve those results?
- If your business or organization did not exist, what would be missed? (If the answer to this question is “Nothing,” you should close this email and begin the search for a new job.)
Thanks for reading! I am thrilled to be able to connect with you and I hope to support you in your effort to grow as an entrepreneurial leader.