Mission Statements: More Important Than You Thought

If an organization lacks a mission statement, it is worthwhile to at least try to draft one. Even if it does not yield an acceptable final draft, the exercise will be rewarding for the hard work which must go into figuring out the company's direction and putative purpose.

Mission statements can help companies determine their proper market niche, suggest new fields for the company to conquer, and even serve as a constraint, indicating, perhaps only implicitly, enterprises in which they should refrain from participating. Without the mission statement, getting sidetracked gets easier. Mission statements can further the cause of sound planning in other ways, too. The act of devising a statement forces management to take a hard look at its external threats and opportunities and at its internal competencies. If this part of the planning process had been neglected, drafting a mission statement will perhaps focus attention on such potential weak areas.

For startup companies and businesses in transition, a mission statement is critical. A mission statement is a charter that defines the basic business in which the enterprise will engage, the types of products it will make or the services it will provide, the markets it will serve, and perhaps how the company will conduct its affairs -- in other words, its purpose. Some managers may tend to regard its preparation as an academic exercise in verbal hairsplitting that offers little guidance in making hard decisions. Indeed, some mission statements are so broad and vague as to recall the prophecies of ancient oracles; others are mere public-relations floss. But if done well, a mission statement can establish a firm foundation for guiding a startup company on the best course or an older business in transition in setting its growth strategy.

Copyright AE Schwartz & Associates All rights reserved. For additional presentation materials and resources: ReadySetPresent and for a Free listing as a Trainer, Consultant, Speaker, Vendor/Organization: TrainingConsortium

CEO, A.E. Schwartz & Associates, Boston, MA., a comprehensive organization which offers over 40 skills based management training programs. Mr. Schwartz conducts over 150 programs annually for clients in industry, research, technology, government, Fortune 100/500 companies, and nonprofit organizations worldwide. He is often found at conferences as a key note presenter and/or facilitator. His style is fast-paced, participatory, practical, and humorous. He has authored over 65 books and products, and taught/lectured at over a dozen colleges and universities throughout the United States.

---

Small Business And The Ability To Find Market Place Opportunities

Marketing is one of the four corner-posts of a solid... Read More

Your Babys Ugly..and Youve Got Bad Breath

I've got good news and bad news. The good news... Read More

Build Your Small Business by Building Relationships

-- The One Pager Shortcut Series --People do business with... Read More

Three Big Barriers To Small Business Marketing Success

When you feel like you're always busy working on your... Read More

Technology Community Helps SMBs Focus on Their Core Business

If you're starting your own business or currently work for... Read More

How Most Business Owners Sabotage Their Success

Owning a business is a challenging endeavor. If you're like... Read More

Public Relations: Antidote for Small Business Failure

When small businesses fail, the wreckage is often assigned to... Read More

Street Wars Between Mobile Car Washers and Mobile Auto Detailers

There is much competition in the mobile auto detailing business.... Read More

Online Search: Small Businesses Level The Playing Field

Seventy percent of US households use the web when shopping... Read More

Business Scents - Do They Work?

You see it often in large shopping complexes. Customers seem... Read More

Comparing Boston Area for a mobile car wash business

The Boston suburbs seem to be rich with possible locations... Read More

Increase Your Profits with a Point of Sale (POS) System

Whether you operate a chain of restaurants, a mom-and-pop convenience... Read More

Tips and Tricks for Legal Debt Collections

If a customer owes your local business money, it's hard... Read More

Professional House Cleaning - The Dirty Little Secret

Are you tired yet of all the books out there... Read More

Hard Money Lenders -- No Money Down The Easy Way

Would it help you as a real estate investor to... Read More

Effectively Completing the Operations Plan Section of Your Business Plan

The Operations Plan is a critical component of any business... Read More

Joint Venture Your Way to Extraordinary Sales!

You know what makes me really happy? Drinking a Starbucks... Read More

There Are No Dumb Business Questions, Not!

Q: I'm curious. What is the dumbest business question you've... Read More

Buy a Flower Shop: Serious Considerations

You've always liked flowers and you think the idea of... Read More

A Great Logo Is A Marketing Must-Have. But Is It Affordable For Small Business Owners?

And is having a logo really that important?My answer to... Read More

Is Your Business Property Safe and Secure?

Security Professionals provide the products and services necessary to create... Read More

Small Business Success Tip: Learn Something New Everyday

Your grandfather probably told you to "learn something new everyday".... Read More

Why Small and Medium-Sized Businesses Should

As the owner or an employee of a small-to medium-sized... Read More

The Perilous Franchise Agreement: What Did You Sign?

Purchasing a franchise has become one of the most popular... Read More

Business Relationships Defined

What makes a business relationship?What really makes a business relationship?... Read More

The Triple A Way to Spark Your Companys Profits

Winning small and home based businesses today must continually shake... Read More

Starting A Concrete Cleaning Pressure Washer Business

Concrete cleaning can be a lucrative business to start. Here... Read More

Where Can I Get Clients From?

The following tips have come from a wide variety of... Read More

If You Want to Work from Home

Here are some important points to take note of if... Read More

Frodos Journey: What It Can Teach You About Marketing Your Small Business

Just recently, I took a break and caught "The Return... Read More

Franchise Companies Come and Go

Each day we hear of companies entering the franchising industry.... Read More

Expanding your business.

Are you a small business owner who wants to expand... Read More

Image is Everything - Secrets to Cleaning Car Fleets

A recent survey indicated that clean Taxi Cabs Fleets have... Read More