The company you work for most likely already has a mission statement. Short and sweet, a mission statement declares the purpose of the company and clarifies its intent. It can do the same for you. Here are examples of mission statements from well-known organizations:
- Microsoft — “To enable people and businesses throughout the world to realize their full potential.”
- Google — “To organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.”
- Intel — “Utilize the power of Moore’s Law to bring smart, connected devices to every person on earth.”
- Adobe — “To move the web forward and give web designers and developers the best tools and services in the world.”
- Cisco — “Shape the future of the Internet by creating unprecedented value and opportunity for our customers, employees, investors, and ecosystem partners.”
- Redhat — “To be the catalyst in communities of customers, contributors, and partners creating better technology the open source way.”
- Intuit — “To improve its customers’ financial lives so profoundly, they couldn’t imagine going back to the old way.”
- Philips — “Improving people’s lives through meaningful innovation.”
Corporations harness the power of a mission statement to describe the benefit they provide. It also serves to get team members motivated and creates a goal. By displaying the company mission statement, team members are motivated to help out with goals and objectives. Copies of the mission statement can be placed in break rooms, warehouses, and elevators to boost awareness.
Customers can read the mission statement to be inspired when choosing your company over competitors. As your company’s most important stakeholders, customers want to know what to expect in terms of quality and investment.
When included in marketing, the mission statement appeals to the needs and wants of the customer. It packs a punch when getting the desired message of quality across.
At a business level, mission statements deliver value. At a personal level, they promote daily leadership and career development. Generate a personal mission statement to serve as a code of conduct to shape convictions, boundaries, and standards. Embodying your specified values can be a great motivator.
Create a well-written personal mission statement to define your individual success. It can serve as a compass when navigating the modern work world that is abundant in gray areas.
Think of your personal mission statement as a compass that helps you navigate when maintaining customer relationships and aligning your teammates to your vision in life and business. You can always update it as your skills and work environments change.
A personal mission statement can help you:
Stay anchored during stormy times
Being calm is a superpower. On any given day, you can be drained from external and internal conflicts. Harness your emotions to command these situations and gain perspective. You can approach your team with a calm mind and focus, giving them refuge.
Make better decisions
A personal mission statement is a cheat code to confidence. It allows you to take decisive action. If you want to provide mentorship <link to mentorship article>, you can touch base with your personal mission statement to be more open to questions and new perspectives. It can also remind you to schedule me time to recharge.
A personal mission statement can help you save mental and emotional energy. Positive choices and exceptional focus are just a few words away.
Show up authentically
A personal mission statement can cause you to do some deep self-reflection. You may want to be a leader or simply be the best in your field. The definition of success is up to you.
Success doesn’t need to equate to money, board approval or awards. Business goals can change every year. A personal mission statement can provide stability when everything is changing.
Steps to creating a personal mission statement
1. Look at your unchanging values.
- What is your first thought in the morning?
- What is your last thought at night?
- What brings you joy?
- How do you handle setbacks?
- Do you have a motto for life or work?
2. Review your career and life for patterns. Then, reflect on your purpose.
How you spend your time is who you are as a person. Figure out what you are most dedicated to and how it gives you energy. By doing so, you can see if you are in balance between discipline and fun.
3. Ask others.
Your team, peers and mentors can give you an objective view of yourself. Create and send an email asking for their input. One example is below.
Dear Debette,
I value your opinion and experience. I am in the process of creating a personal mission statement. Do you mind letting me know how you have found my work and attitude in the time we have known each other? I really appreciate your time!
Sincerely,
Sally
4. Keep it short
Your mission statement should be tight and concise — aim for 50 words. Do some stream of consciousness brainstorming at first to get ideas flowing. Edit afterward. Make sure your mission statement is in the present tense. Harness your emotions and create a specific visual of who you really are.
Personal Mission Statement Example:
To live each day with [choose one to three core values] so that [what living by these values will give you]. I will do this by [specific behaviors you will use to live by these values].
Your mission statement can change at any time. Review it every quarter to ensure it is relevant to your current skills and goals. What would your personal mission statement be?
