Do you rate mission statements? Does the company you work for have one and if so, what do you think of it? Does it motivate and inspire?
Many companies are proud of their mission statements, refining them as their organisation grows and develops, while others have done away with them altogether, favouring alternative methods to define who they are and what they stand for.
For those companies who do go to the trouble of producing a mission statement, it can be a potential minefield…
In Richard Branson’s book, The Virgin Way, he comments, ‘When a business puts out some highfalutin mission statement that draws a roll of the eyes and a ‘Yeah, right!’ reaction from every employee who reads it, then clearly the time and effort would be better spent righting the problem instead of writing the cover-up.’
He continues, ‘a well written ‘mission statement’ can be a helpful management tool but only if it can be used to lock in a high level of ‘mission commitment’ from the staff and is reinforced by senior management at every opportunity.’
What constitutes an inspirational mission statement?
For their latest infographic, leading financial protection insurers, Unum, has sought out the most inspirational mission statements around.
Unum states, ‘from looking at the 24 inspirational examples, it’s clear to see that a well-crafted mission statement can be a great way of focusing a business, and sharing the business’ overall goals.
For businesses without a mission statement creating one can allow you to determine your core business model and strategy, while establishing the brand and giving employees a focus for their efforts.’
Take a look at the examples below and share your thoughts…
