Creating a Successful Mission Statement, Vision, and Values for your Company

The mission statement, vision, and values comprise the strategic framework that guides the day-to-day running of the office, allowing managers and employees to refer to this in order to check if they are in line with company procedures. When these are transparent and communicated to employees, it can be a great way to build motivation and increase work satisfaction. Companies whose employees understand the mission and goals enjoy a 29% greater return than other firms (Watson Wyatt Work-Study). This is directly related to employee retention as well. So how do you get started?

Developing this framework begins with understanding the company’s vision and goals. This includes where the company sees itself in the future, therefore, consisting of immediate, intermediate, and long-term future goals. It should resonate with all members of the organization and help them feel proud, excited, motivated, and part of something much bigger than themselves. Create a shorter vision statement because employees will remember it better than a longer one. When employees internalize the vision statement, they take action to make the vision statement come true, according to BalanceCareers.com.

Next, company values are developed. Values are beliefs that manifest in how an employee interacts in a workplace, and they stand at the core of what your organization is and what your organization cherishes. Values are also known as core values and represent an employee's most significant commitments to what they find most important in life. The values of each of the individuals in your workplace, along with their experiences and upbringing, meld together to form your corporate culture. The values of your senior leaders are especially important in the development of your culture. Leaders should hire candidates who they believe have aligned values to fit the workplace culture.

Once the company’s vision and values have been established, the next step is to develop the mission statement. This statement is a short, clear, and succinct summary of the company’s vision and should be readily available to all employees. Identifying and sharing your mission statement will engage your employees and fuel future accomplishments. It defines what the company stands for and what they plan to do. The vision and mission statement plays an important role in other areas of the company like human resources, onboarding, and leadership training as it lays the foundation for all communication and processes.

A detailed strategic framework can provide a focus and a vision for all employees to aspire towards. It can also serve as an important evaluation and monitoring tool, helping departments to measure how well they are meeting company goals. Essentially, it is the foundation of all company decisions. When executed effectively, you will enjoy a greater return. With your mission statement, vision, and values, aligned your company will enjoy a cohesive feeling of belonging and a strong cultural presence for all employees to grow in the same direction collectively and with conviction.