Spot check – what is your company mission? In other words, what is the core purpose and central objective of your daily work?
Many of us have worked for organizations whose mission, vision and values are mere lip service; hollow words that do little to inspire employees or guide behaviour. The statements may be inscribed on a wall plaque or be found collecting dust on the inside cover of the employee handbook, but the sentiment is not felt amongst the people that execute on the mission day in and day out.
Articulating organizational values and developing a clear mission statement can feel like a daunting task. And it is. When done right, these guiding statements have the power to create a collective sense of purpose that lead individuals through their experience within your organization. On the other hand, if the mark is missed and the sentiment is not reflective of the real employee experience, it can have the power to develop fractures in organizational trust and damage your workplace culture – in the worst examples becoming fuel for ridicule.
In order to resonate with employees, it’s critical that your mission statement reflect your true purpose. It should include an aspirational element to create an emotional connection with your people that will support them through challenges and guide decision-making in times of ambiguity. Is your current mission statement filling this tall order?
Once you’ve crafted an authentic mission statement, it needs to be woven into the fabric of your company culture. Bringing your mission statement to life within your organization doesn’t require an elaborate plan. It’s about consistent messaging around your core purpose and ensuring your people are collectively moving in the same direction. A common belief in the foundation of your organization develops power in a shared purpose and those who have experienced an organizational culture truly driven by a well stated mission and deeply rooted corporate values can attest to the effectiveness of authentic guiding statements.
What percentage of your workforce could respond in a meaningful way to a mission statement spot check? If you were to conduct such a spot check in your organization, the results would provide great insight into your employer brand.