A good mission statement is one that reflects the values of the company and of those who work in it. The best way to create a mission statement that the whole group can embrace is to have the team members get involved in the process. Getting your team involved in the process sends the signal to them that you want their opinion. The end goal is to have a mission statement that everyone believes in.

Start by expressing your values. Is it important that you lead the industry in customer service? Fast delivery? Easy access to tech support? Tell your team what you value, and then ask them what they value. Keep working until you have a shared values list. Once you have defined your values, move on to defining purpose. Once again, tell the team what your purpose is, and then asked them to talk about purpose. In this process you may identify things or people that need adjustment. Is the person who is responsible for interacting with your customers shy? Or unsure of herself? Does she lack sensitivity or the ability to put customers at ease? If you discover that a team member is in the wrong position, find out how you can use her skills in a place that is more beneficial to the company.

Now move from purpose to vision. Talk about your vision. Where do you see the organization going in the short term and long term? Take the values and purpose lists that you and your team discovered and turn them into your shared vision. This is where you get to paint the picture of the future.

Your vision should be as descriptive as possible. Consider the large and small things; from business cards to how you conduct follow-up. Now you are in a perfect position to write a mission statement that your company will support. Why? Because they had a part in creating it. This is a win for you and a win for your team, and ultimately a win for your customers.
• Values
• Purpose
• Vision

The mission statement should be lived from the inside out. For more information on writing a powerful corporate statement read Full Steam Ahead! By Ken Blanchard and Jesse Stoner. www.bkconnection.com