When it comes to business, there is a lot of focus on deadlines, results, and making and achieving goals. And when your main purpose is to make money, that makes sense.
However, the very best companies are able to combine these things with the important notion that its employees are actually people, real people with real needs and motivations no less.
That is why there has been a recent trend for big companies and startups alike, to incorporate a company “mission statement” into their wider philosophy. And they are reaping the many benefits from what is seemingly the simplest of ideas.
–A Unified Vision
When you are in charge of a group of employees, whether it is a small handful of people or a group of a thousand or more, it is important to make sure that everyone is singing from the same hymn sheet.
But when you are dealing with a number of unique people, all with different skills and personalities, it can be difficult to make this happen. How do you make sure that you reach out to each person in the entire company? And how do you help everyone to know what is expected of them?
A mission statement is a good place to start. For example, one of the world’s biggest companies, Google, states that their mission is “to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.” This lets not only the company’s employees know what is expected of them, but also lets everyone know what they as a company are trying to accomplish.
–Creating a Community
When you create a unified vision, you will also unify individuals. A mission statement can be excellent motivation, but it can also be one of the best ways to create a community feel out of a group of unique individuals.
When you have a good mission statement, you can inspire and encourage people. A good example is this inspirational quote from Simon Sinek, “People don’t buy what you do; people buy why you do it.”
It encourages your employees to evaluate their motives behind their daily work, and offers them the chance to look at the reasons behind everything that they do individually, as well as what you do as a company.
–The Best Results
When you have the right mission statement, you will get the best results. Not only will people better understand their objectives, but they will also understand the reasoning behind them. And when your employees understand their jobs, they are more likely to be happy with their positions.
This benefits your business in multiple ways, as you can not only create a happy work environment, but it will also encourage better results. Furthermore, when people are happy at your company, you are more likely to have a higher rate of employee retention.
This means that you can devote significantly less time and resources to hiring and training new employees. Of course, when you have a mission statement, it is much easier to attract the sort of employees that you need!
For direction, meaning, and results, a good mission statement is something that you simply cannot go without.
About the Author: Robert Cordray is a freelance writer and expert in business and marketing. With over 20 years of startup experience, Robert is now retired and hopes others can benefit from his writing.
