Does your organization have a mission statement? If so, when was the last time anyone looked at it? If you asked people on your team to recite or explain it, how many could do so accurately? If you are honest, most likely you might have a mission statement, but few people can explain or recite it. This would be typical for many organizations. Often there is a mission statement, but it is simply words on the wall or a few paragraphs in a brochure. Regrettably, it is not something that is top of mind for people. If that is the case with your organization, then you should make sure that the mission is current, relevant, and communicated. Otherwise, your group is missing an important organizational tool to build a high performing organization. Here are a few ways that an effective mission statement can benefit your team:
It’s a rallying point for people. A clear and concise mission statement can be a rallying point for your organization. It explains what you do so that you can get people pulling in the same direction. It explains your purpose and what you need to do. It helps to engage people in something larger than themselves, the higher purpose of your organization.
It’s a focus for effort and resources. When people understand the organization’s mission, then it will become the focus for effort and resources. Every organization has limited amounts of both people and resources, and a clear mission helps to focus both on the organization’s primary purpose.
It’s a guiding light for decision-making. The mission can also be a guiding light for decision-making. It serves as a simple decision-making filter by asking one simple question: Will this decision support the mission? If it does, then it passes the basic litmus test; however, if it does not, then it must be challenged as an unnecessary choice that will not contribute to the organization’s success.
In a recent interview with Charlie Rose, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg described the importance of the mission at Facebook: “We Connect the World.” Along with COO Sheryl Sandberg, they quickly explained that they don’t make products like Apple, nor do they sell products like Amazon. They don’t make operating systems like Microsoft and they don’t do search like Google. They also don’t create content like movies, music, or pictures. Everything they do at Facebook is aimed at solving one problem: connecting people. They hire engineers who go to work everyday just to work on this one challenge – accomplishing their mission. They simply want to “Connect the World.”
Thus, mission statements are a valuable tool for leaders to get their organization aligned around a common purpose. Effective statements are concisely written and easily conveyed, and thus more easily remembered. Effective missions are understood and remembered by everyone in the organization. When they become part of the culture, then their power can be unleashed to rally people, focus effort and resources, and guide decisions. If your organization’s mission statement isn’t a crisp statement of your core purpose, then take the time to rewrite it and reintroduce it to your team. Use it as a tool to attain high performance. Get the power of a mission statement working for you!
