The best companies and organizations take time to really think about what they do and how they do it. And, more importantly, they take the time and effort necessary to create ways to consistently and effectively communicate what they do and how they do it. This is the first in a three-part blog series on how to begin that process.
Mission statements (Part 1 of 3)
When you define or redefine your organization one of the first steps should be to develop a mission statement. The mission statement is, in a few short phrases, the focus and lifeblood of your organization. It should state very clearly your organization’s primary objective(s). And the effective statement communicates a clear meaning not only to customers and potential customers, but also to employees, the community, and potential investors.
While there are no hard and fast rules for writing mission statements, here are some rules of thumb:
1. The statement should be clear and concise
2. The statement should be meaningful
3. The statement should convey the direction of the organization
Examples of Mission Statements
Here are three examples of mission statements from very different organizations:
1) The Colorado Mountain Club is organized to:
- Unite the energy, interest, and knowledge of the students, explorers, and lovers of the mountains of Colorado ;
- Collect and disseminate information regarding the Rocky Mountains on behalf of science, literature, art, and recreation;
- Stimulate public interest in our mountain area;
- Encourage the preservation of forests, flowers, fauna, and natural scenery; and
- Render readily accessible the alpine attractions of this region.
2) Google’s mission is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.
3) The Ford Motor Company Mission Statement: ONE PLAN
ONE FORD MISSION:
ONE TEAM
People working together as a lean, global enterprise for automotive leadership, as measured by: Customer, Employee, Dealer, Investor, Supplier, Union/Council, and Community Satisfaction
ONE PLAN
ONE FORD MISSION:
ONE TEAM
People working together as a lean, global enterprise for automotive leadership, as measured by: Customer, Employee, Dealer, Investor, Supplier, Union/Council, and Community Satisfaction
ONE PLAN
- Aggressively restructure to operate profitably at the current demand and changing model mix
- Accelerate development of new products our customers want and value
- Finance our plan and improve our balance sheet
- Work together effectively as one team
ONE GOAL
An exciting viable Ford delivering profitable growth for all.
What is your organization’s mission statement?
Kim Luedke is Co-owner of ProfessionalEdge Associates, offering a wide range of marketing and support services to businesses that want to increase their success, but aren't in a position to add to their staff.
