What are Mission and Vision statements?
A Mission Statement defines the organization’s business and objectives and how it will achieve them.
A Vision Statement details the organization’s aspired goals.
Mission Statements vs. Vision Statements
Although often used interchangeably, Mission and Vision Statements have two distinct meanings.
Your mission statement describes what your company is currently doing, while your vision statement outlines what you hope to achieve. It highlights the difference between where you are now and where you plan to be in the coming years.
How to Write a Mission Statement
In its most basic form, a mission statement should capture what your company offers, who it serves, and what makes it unique. Start by writing a short response to each of these prompts.
Once you have these pieces, it’s time to combine them into a more readable statement. Consider a few potential statements by rearranging the nuts and bolts of your mission statement, swapping in different words, and making other changes. Don’t worry if your first attempt doesn’t sing; it’s all about trial and error.
Collect feedback from your colleagues, leaders, board of directors, and loyal customers to help you refine your statement. Ask questions like: which statements do you like the most and why? Which of these statements do you like the least and why? Is there anything missing? Do you have any other ideas to add? Take your feedback and work with it to develop the perfect statement for your organization.
It might take time and many revisions to nail down it but don’t fret. It would mean you’re giving your mission statement the effort and consideration it deserves. The result will be a statement that captures the heart of your organization and explains why it exists.
How to Write a Vision Statement
Creating a vision statement can be challenging if you don’t have a crystal ball to predict your company’s future. But fear not! We have broken down this important project into three simple steps.
Step 1: Define your ultimate goal. You need to understand why your company’s offerings matter. What does it help people do? How does it improve their lives? Imagine your company as a road on which your customers run a race. Once they cross the finish line, what do they get? This visualization can help you see how your actions make a difference for your customers, community, or even the world.
Step 2: Pinpoint when you know you’ve made it. What does success look like five or ten years down the road? Write down everything that comes to mind. Now is the time to be ambitious and bold, so don’t be timid. Find your swagger and go big!
Step 3: Gather your vision – what you offer, why it matters, and how you’ll know when you’re successful. Now, combining them using different wordings to see what you come up with.
Once you follow these three steps, your vision statement should be concise and straightforward while reflecting your organization’s goals for the future. Remember to share it with others for feedback!
The Purpose of Vision and Mission Statements
Mission and Vision statements are crucial for organizations as they convey the company’s values and objectives. These statements help employees and customers understand the company’s identity and what sets it apart from others.
Your mission statement represents your purpose and the principles that guide your decision-making. On the other hand, your vision statement outlines your long-term goals and serves as a roadmap for achieving them.
Creating these statements is just the beginning. Make sure to incorporate them into your onboarding process for new hires and revisit them when launching new projects, brainstorming, or making significant decisions.
When your mission and vision are at the core of your company’s culture, they become integral to operating your business successfully.