Developing Your Mission

"The best Leader is one who knows how to pick good people to do what he or she wants done and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it." - Heidi Richards -

Mission statements describe the purpose of an organization or a sub-group of it. It is a general description of what it is that the team is there to do. It grows out of the Vision. It describes the organization's purpose. It tends to be general with objectives often accompanying it. The mission provides the "framework" for goals and objectives. It also provides guidance for the major decisions officers and board members need to make. Identifying or updating the mission is usually done during strategic planning.

Developing a mission statement can be approached using varying methods:

Participants may use highly analytical and rational exercises such as focused discussions or highly creative and divergent approaches through daydreaming, sharing stories, etc.

In the wording process consider the products, services, values, market and concern for the public image of the organization.

The mission should be brief enough (one or two sentences) that everyone in the organization can learn it and recite verbatim.

Adding or removing a word, which may also further define the scope of products and services of the organization, can accomplish refining the mission.

The mission should include sufficient description so that it clearly separates the mission of the organization from other organizations.

It is a good idea to revisit the mission from time to time to make sure it is relevant to the organization's current situation.

To stimulate thinking the group should consider the functions of the organization, who the organization serves (the customer) and how the organization will fulfill the functions (the activities, methods and technologies).

© 2005 - Heidi Richards

Heidi Richards is the author of The PMS Principles, Powerful Marketing Strategies to Grow Your Business and 7 other books. She is the owner of Eden Florist & Gift Baskets ? http://www.edenflorist.com and the Founder & CEO of the Women's ECommerce Association, International http://www.WECAI.org (pronounced wee-kī) ? an Internet organization that "Helps Women Do Business on the WEB." Basic Membership is FREE. Ms. Richards can be reached at http://www.HeidiRichards.com or Heidi@wecai.org.

---

Lateral Thinking, Logical Thinking, Applied Creativity

Certain processes enhance creative output and others enhance innovative output.... Read More

Travel the World - for Free!

I have been very fortunate to travel to several countries... Read More

Corporate Governance for Business Owners

It is clear that good Corporate Governance is in the... Read More

Drafting an Employee Manual Sample Outline

One of the hardest things I had discovered running my... Read More

Reprimanding Marginal Employees

THE MARGINAL PERFORMER: Every manager must, from time to time,... Read More

Lead to Succeed: The Seven Essential Steps to Work Leader Success

In my book "You're In Charge?What Now?" I use a... Read More

Are Your Marketing Pieces Up to Date?

The other day someone asked me for one of my... Read More

Tales from the Corporate Frontlines: Providing Career Opportunity

This article relates to the Career Opportunity competency, commonly evaluated... Read More

Give Yourself a Boss? Day Gift

Become a better boss and reap the benefitsAnother interesting study... Read More

Making Meetings Work

We have all attended meetings that were boring, mindless and... Read More

4 Simple Steps to Successful Delegation

Last month, my featured article was about creating a "Stop... Read More

Difficult Staff - It Pays To Get To Know Them Better

It's very easy for a business owner or manager to... Read More

Planning Your Recruiting Efforts Can Help You Find Great Employees

Today, companies have an ever-expanding list of options available to... Read More

Training and ROI (Return On Investment)

Statistics consistently reinforce that the biggest challenge in today's contact... Read More

Diversity in the Workplace: Benefits, Challenges and Solutions

Workplace diversity refers to the variety of differences between people... Read More

Get It Done! Soft Skills not Hard Tools are Required

If your organization has people, then interpersonal skills are needed.I... Read More

Creativity and Innovation Management in Conservative, Staid Organisations

Conservative and staid organisations generally have a harder time implementing... Read More

The Red Phone - Management Consulting in 30 Seconds or Less

Modern business faces complex problems; management often calls upon highly-specialized... Read More

Project Management, A Forgotten Perspective

Effective project managers know how to get the job done,... Read More

Bye-Bye Boring Meetings! Make Yours Remarkable!

It's the middle of the night. You've woken up with... Read More

Hire Winners: Ask the Right Questions

How do you as a manager, supervisor or team leader... Read More

Dont Get Side-Tracked By The Nay-Sayers

You, the Entrepreneur, are 'normally' a type-A individual. One who... Read More

Diversity Training: The Worst Possible Reasons to Request Executive Funding

You're on your organization's diversity committee. You have the best... Read More

How to Keep a Good Employee: Look, Listen, Learn

Recently a client told me a wonderful story about how... Read More

Organizational Culture, Creativity, Innovation

It can be concluded with great certainty that certain organizational... Read More

What Your Employees Want You to Know (But You Might Be Afraid to Ask)

This is a challenge for every company owner and manager.... Read More

Are You the Culprit?

Are you a business, non-profit or association manager who pretty... Read More

Executives and Emotional Self Awareness

A major problem impairing an executive's performance is his Emotional... Read More

Jewelry Use by Employees

Many companies have dress codes, which include jewelry. Some companies... Read More

Pitching to Employees

The senior flight attendant on the WestJet flight was starting... Read More

Appraisal Systems - Not Living Up to Their Objectives

Almost, if not all organisations have them, they've been around... Read More

Managing Performance: Don?t Let Slackers Bring Down Your ?A? Players

As a manager, it is your job to ensure that... Read More

Innovation Management: The Quality and Quantity of the Idea Pool

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More