Translating Values into Action: Building Your Mission Statement

Once you have your foundation of core values, you’re ready to move on to stage two: writing your winning mission statement.

Mission statements tell others who you are. Your mission describes the work you do, the contributions you make, and often, the “why” behind it all. It’s where you are right now – if someone walked into your office today, what would you tell them your team’s purpose is?

Infuse Identity Into Your Mission Statement

Your team’s identity is the heart of your mission statement. To begin constructing this statement, take your previously developed core values and consider the following questions:

• Who are you, and what work does your team do?

• Who does your work impact across campus?

• Why do others go to your department for assistance?

• What is the end result or product of your work?

• How do your values represent your work?

  
  

Note that you don’t need to use all of your values in your mission statement – often, your values stand on their own. However, it’s likely that you’ll incorporate at least a few into your final draft.

Work On Mission Statement Wording

If you’re having trouble getting into the flow of it, consider starting with a simple template:

“Our mission is to [primary purpose] by [core method or approach] to [end goal]. Through [primary activities or values], we are committed to [impact on campus].”

Your mission statement doesn’t have to be long. One to two sentences is usually plenty, as anything longer than that can get wordy and difficult to remember.

We all have different strengths, so those struggling with wordsmithing may want to consider using AI as a helpful tool. Though you want your mission statement to be as human-written and relevant as possible, AI can help proofread, correct grammar, or offer ideas for different phrases to use in your final draft. Try asking your preferred chatbot of choice for some mission statement examples using your values or existing draft to begin brainstorming.

Final Thoughts: Let Your Mission Reflect You

Remember, your mission statement reflects your entire team. Make sure you gather input from others on the team so everyone has a say in the final draft. Creating a mission statement can be challenging, but allowing others to offer their own ideas can make the process much smoother. Plus, according to Harvard Business School, employees who are included in the decision-making process tend to be more engaged, leading to benefits like lower turnover and burnout.

And as mentioned in the previous blog post: remember that your mission statement can be changed at any time! Your mission statement should evolve with your needs and goals, so don’t be afraid to go back to the drawing board if you think it needs some work. Your mission statement is your team’s identity, and you need to know who you are before you can determine who you want to be.

Need some additional help creating your mission statement? Reach out today for my coaching and development services. I would love to help your team on your strategic planning journey.