Mission and vision statements get a bad rap for a lot of reasons, but having the right ones in place can help steer the course of how you do business. When done right, these give employees a common focus and outlook, ensuring your whole team is moving in the same direction.
So, let’s start at the beginning. Here’s a quick definition for each:
Mission Statements
Mission statements are present and concrete. They should convey a sense of why the company exists to both those inside and outside the business.
Vision Statements
Vision statements are aspirational and offer direction/motivation.
Sounds easy, right? It’s not. Coming up with both of these for your company can send you in a lot of different directions, so I’ve put together a quick list of advice for writing yours:
- Choose something that is memorable. Shorter is often better, but neither has to be.
- Select statements that ring true.
- Do a little research at the beginning, but don’t spend hours looking at the competition. It will cloud your thoughts.
- Vision and mission statements should be personal to the company. Choose ones that work for you. One firm’s approach may not resonate with you, and that’s okay.