Do I need a Mission and a Vision statement? Really?

Yes, the mission and vision statement of your organization is important. It will inspire your employees and express your values to your customers.

It serves as a guide and a source of inspiration for the organization’s actions and decisions. The mission statement defines the purpose and goals of the organization, while the vision statement outlines the desired future state that the organization strives to achieve. Both help in defining the organization’s identity and in aligning the efforts of its employees towards a common goal. Additionally, the mission and vision statement can also be used to communicate the organization’s values, culture, and priorities to its stakeholders, including customers, employees, investors, and the community.

Here are some examples of statements from well known companies that have thought very carefully ow to craft them:

MICROSOFT

Vision: “Inspiring the world, one person at a time.”

Mission: “To empower people to achieve their dreams and change the world.”

IKEA

Vision: “A better way to live.”

Mission: “To create innovative, sustainable products and solutions that make people’s lives better, while striving to positively impact the communities where we live and work.”

COCA COLA

Vision: “To inspire moments of optimism and happiness.”

Mission: “To refresh the world in mind, body, and spirit. To create value and make a difference.”

Vision: Small Business, Professionals managing sustainable businesses enriching our communities

Mission: To empower small business owners, entrepreneurs, and nonprofit managers with professional tools and strategic advice to grow profitably.

DAVID NOSNIK CPA PLLC

Vision: Small Business, Professionals managing sustainable businesses enriching our communities

Mission: To empower small business owners, entrepreneurs, and nonprofit managers with professional tools and strategic advice to grow profitably.

How to develop an effective mission statement

Remember, the mission and vision statements should be written in language that is easily understandable, inspiring, and aligned with your organization’s culture and values.

Here is a step-by-step process to develop a mission and vision statement:

1. Define your purpose: Consider the reason for the existence of your organization and the difference it makes in the world. This will form the basis of your mission statement.
2. Identify your core values: Determine the values that are important to your organization and that will guide its actions and decisions.
3. Establish your goals and objectives: Identify the specific outcomes that your organization aims to achieve, both in the short-term and the long-term.
4. Develop the vision statement: How do you see your organization in 5, 10 20 years? The vision statement should inspire and motivate employees, stakeholders, and customers.
5. Write the mission statement: Summarize your purpose, values, and goals into a clear, concise, and inspiring statement that defines the reason for your organization’s existence.

Testing the effectiveness of your Mission statement

An effective Mission statement should move. Move your employees, your customers and other stakeholders. It should be flexible and able to adapt to changes within the organization and its external environment. While the core purpose and values of the organization should remain consistent over time, the goals and objectives outlined in the mission statement may change as the organization evolves and faces new challenges and opportunities.

Here are some ways to test the effectiveness of your mission statement:

1. Align with strategy: Ensure that your mission statement aligns with your organization’s strategy and objectives. The mission statement should be a guiding principle for all decision-making and actions within the organization.
2. Measure against performance: Regularly evaluate how well the organization is performing against its mission statement. This can be done by setting specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals and tracking progress against them.
3. Engage employees: Ask employees for feedback on how well the mission statement aligns with their work and how well they understand it. Employee engagement is an indicator of the mission statement’s effectiveness.
4. Assess customer feedback: Ask customers for feedback on how well the organization is fulfilling its mission. This can help to identify areas for improvement and ensure that the mission statement remains relevant to customers’ needs and expectations.
5. Test against competitors: Compare your mission statement to those of your competitors to see how well it differentiates your organization and sets it apart.
6. Review regularly: Regularly review and revise your mission statement as needed to ensure that it remains relevant and inspiring to all stakeholders.