Sunday, September 11, 2011

Creating a Team Mission Statement

Creating a team mission statement is an essential job of leadership. As the leader of an organization you must ensure that the organization has a mission.

A team mission tells you the purpose of existence of the group/organization.

MISSIONS TRIPS

Why does the team exist?

For what common purpose do you come together for?

A mission statement must carry the heartbeat of the organization; it cannot be something plucked out from the air just to make the organization look good or something that you ask consultants to give to you.

A powerful mission statement gives the organization a lot of effectiveness.

Instead of running around in circles, a mission statement helps an organization clarify its direction as well as values. A company with a strong mission statement with its employees living out its heart

One example would be Ben & Jerry's. Their socially conscious bosses have made certain company policies like donating 7% of all profits back to society.

This strong mission statement backed by solid action has drawn Ben & Jerry's a load of equally passionate employees in its ranks.

But how many times have you known employees or team members of an organization who know the mission statement as the 'thing on the wall'.

These people know that the company has a mission statement, it's just that there don't know what it stands for and how it translates to their daily work behaviour.

Some of them can even recite it to you, but when you observe the way they behave, you can tell they don't really care about what the mission statement really means.

Therefore creating a team mission statement is an essential process to build an effective, productive team.

Notes about Creating a Team Mission Statement

1. A team mission statement should be created together.

This is especially the case if you are starting out with a team. You want to sit down with everyone to talk about the whole idea of the organization. The truth is, while lots of people may come together to build an organization: a church, a company, a group, but they might have different agendas coming into it.

One man may start an agriculture business to provide food for the locals; another may do it for the profits; Its two different purposes but the same vehicle.

Therefore before the whole organization is birthed, you need to sit down and clarify these values so that everyone will be on the same page and have the same heartbeat. This not only takes away room for future misunderstanding and conflicts, but also channels the collective energy of the group in one direction.

2. A team mission statement should be spoken of regularly.

Most people can get distracted easily; some by money, some by other reasons and it's important to always come together again to talk about the reason why the whole organization exists.

Constantly share the vision and mission of the company together and talk about how the organization is progressing with regards to fulfilling its purpose. Talk about the behaviours in the company that are aligned with it, and about those that are in conflict.

By doing this in the long run, you'll find your team understanding in greater measure about what the spirit behind the mission statement is.

3. Your team mission statement must be in line with your personal mission in life.

As the leader of the organization, you must have a similar mission in life with your corporation. Above all else, you are after all the head of the organization and more than anyone else, you must embrace the corporate mission as your own.

This is not possible if the company's mission is not similar to yours. For example, if you were the founder of Ben & Jerry, would you take into account the environmental issues involved and make it an integral part of the company?

I know I wouldn't. It isn't because I don't care about the environment; it's just that I don't believe it with a passion. And if I did put it there, pretty soon some of my actions might come into conflict with the company's mission, which reflects badly on me as a leader.

So really, if you ask what your team mission statement should be, ask yourself first, what is your life's mission? If you don't know what your personal mission is in life; your purpose in life, how would you find one for your group?

Do take some time to think it through, ultimately creating a team mission statement must beat with your heart.

Creating a Team Mission Statement

MISSIONS TRIPS

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