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The Empuls Glossary

Glossary of Human Resources Management and Employee Benefit Terms

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What is a mission in business?

In business, a mission refers to the fundamental purpose or reason for the existence of the organization. It outlines what the company does, who it serves, and why it operates.

What is the importance of a mission statement?

A mission statement holds immense significance for an organization:

  • Identifying the purpose: A mission statement clarifies the purpose and identity of the organization, providing stakeholders with a clear understanding of its raison d'être.
  • Clarifying goals: It helps in clarifying the overarching goals and objectives that the organization aims to achieve, aligning efforts towards a common vision.
  • Guiding organizational direction: By providing a roadmap for decision-making and strategic planning, a mission statement ensures coherence and consistency in organizational direction.

What does a mission statement entail?

A mission statement typically comprises several key components:

1. Core values

  • Defining fundamental beliefs: Articulating the core values that underpin the organization's culture and operations.
  • Shaping decision-making: Demonstrating how these values guide decision-making processes and actions.

2. Vision

  • Desired future state: Describing the envisioned future state of the organization.
  • Compelling picture of success: Painting a vivid and inspiring picture of what success looks like.

3. Purpose

  • Identifying reason for existence: Clarifying the overarching reason for the organization's existence.
  • Articulating impact: Expressing the desired impact the organization seeks to make on its stakeholders and society.

Mission Statement

What is a mission statement in business?

In business, a mission statement defines the purpose of the company, its primary objectives, and the values that guide its operations. It serves as a guiding principle for decision-making and strategy development.

What is a company mission statement?

A company mission statement is a declaration of an organization's purpose, goals, and values. It communicates what the company aims to achieve and how it intends to do so.

What is the purpose of a mission statement?

The purpose of a mission statement is to provide clarity and direction to an organization or individual. It serves as a guiding principle for decision-making, goal-setting, and strategy development. Additionally, it communicates the organization's identity and values to stakeholders.

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What is an example of a good mission statement?

A good mission statement is one that is clear, concise, and reflective of the organization's purpose and values. For example, Google's mission statement is: "To organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful."

What are the 3 parts of a mission statement?

A typical mission statement consists of three parts:

  • Purpose: Describes why the organization exists.
  • Objectives: Outlines the organization's goals and what it aims to achieve.
  • Values: Identifies the core principles and beliefs that guide the organization's actions.

What is mission and vision?

Mission and vision are both important components of an organization's strategic planning:

  • Mission: Defines the organization's purpose, objectives, and values.
  • Vision: Describes the desired future state or long-term goals of the organization.

What is a mission in business?

In business, a mission refers to the fundamental purpose or reason for the existence of the organization. It outlines what the company does, who it serves, and why it operates.

What is the importance of a mission statement?

A mission statement holds immense significance for an organization:

  • Identifying the purpose: A mission statement clarifies the purpose and identity of the organization, providing stakeholders with a clear understanding of its raison d'être.
  • Clarifying goals: It helps in clarifying the overarching goals and objectives that the organization aims to achieve, aligning efforts towards a common vision.
  • Guiding organizational direction: By providing a roadmap for decision-making and strategic planning, a mission statement ensures coherence and consistency in organizational direction.

What does a mission statement entail?

A mission statement typically comprises several key components:

1. Core values

  • Defining fundamental beliefs: Articulating the core values that underpin the organization's culture and operations.
  • Shaping decision-making: Demonstrating how these values guide decision-making processes and actions.

2. Vision

  • Desired future state: Describing the envisioned future state of the organization.
  • Compelling picture of success: Painting a vivid and inspiring picture of what success looks like.

3. Purpose

  • Identifying reason for existence: Clarifying the overarching reason for the organization's existence.
  • Articulating impact: Expressing the desired impact the organization seeks to make on its stakeholders and society.

What are the characteristics of a strong mission statement?

A robust mission statement exhibits several key characteristics:

1. Clarity

  • Clear and understandable language: Ensuring the statement is easily comprehensible to all stakeholders.
  • Avoiding ambiguity: Steer clear of jargon and ambiguity to convey the message effectively.

2. Conciseness

  • Brevity: Keeping the statement succinct while capturing the essence of the organization's mission.
  • Highlighting essence: Articulating the core purpose and values without unnecessary elaboration.

3. Inspirational

  • Motivational: Inspiring stakeholders and employees, fostering a sense of purpose and pride.
  • Instilling purpose: Cultivating a shared sense of meaning and direction among all stakeholders.

4. Specificity

  • Unique differentiation: Addressing the distinctive aspects that set the organization apart from competitors.
  • Clear differentiation: Clearly articulating what makes the organization unique and valuable.

How to craft an effective mission statement?

Crafting an effective mission statement involves a deliberate and collaborative process:

1. Involving key stakeholders

  • Engagement: Engaging employees, leadership, and other stakeholders in the formulation process.
  • Alignment: Ensuring alignment with organizational values and goals throughout the crafting process.

2. Brainstorming and drafting

  • Collaborative ideation: Generating ideas collaboratively to capture diverse perspectives.
  • Refinement: Iterating and refining the statement to enhance clarity and resonance.

3. Review and revision

  • Seeking feedback: Soliciting feedback from various stakeholders to ensure inclusivity and relevance.
  • Continuous improvement: Making iterative adjustments to enhance the statement's effectiveness over time.

How to write a mission statement?

To write a mission statement, one should:

  • Identify the organization's purpose.
  • Define its primary objectives.
  • Consider the organization's values and principles.
  • Keep it concise and clear.
  • Involve stakeholders in the process.

How long should a mission statement be?

Ideally, a mission statement should be brief, typically ranging from one sentence to a short paragraph. It should be succinct yet comprehensive enough to capture the essence of the organization's purpose.

Employee pulse surveys:

These are short surveys that can be sent frequently to check what your employees think about an issue quickly. The survey comprises fewer questions (not more than 10) to get the information quickly. These can be administered at regular intervals (monthly/weekly/quarterly).

One-on-one meetings:

Having periodic, hour-long meetings for an informal chat with every team member is an excellent way to get a true sense of what’s happening with them. Since it is a safe and private conversation, it helps you get better details about an issue.

eNPS:

eNPS (employee Net Promoter score) is one of the simplest yet effective ways to assess your employee's opinion of your company. It includes one intriguing question that gauges loyalty. An example of eNPS questions include: How likely are you to recommend our company to others? Employees respond to the eNPS survey on a scale of 1-10, where 10 denotes they are ‘highly likely’ to recommend the company and 1 signifies they are ‘highly unlikely’ to recommend it.

Based on the responses, employees can be placed in three different categories:

  • Promoters
    Employees who have responded positively or agreed.
  • Detractors
    Employees who have reacted negatively or disagreed.
  • Passives
    Employees who have stayed neutral with their responses.

How to create a mission statement?

To create a mission statement, an individual or organization should:

  • Reflect on their purpose and values.
  • Identify their long-term objectives.
  • Draft a concise statement that encapsulates these elements.
  • Seek feedback from relevant stakeholders.
  • Revise and refine as necessary.

How to implement the mission statement?

Implementation is crucial for ensuring the mission statement's efficacy:

1. Communication

  • Internal and external communication: Sharing the statement with employees and stakeholders, integrating it into organizational communications.
  • Consistent messaging: Ensuring alignment between internal and external messaging to reinforce organizational identity.

2. Integration

  • Decision-making: Using the mission as a guiding principle for strategic decisions and initiatives.
  • Alignment: Ensuring that all organizational activities and projects are aligned with the mission's objectives.

3. Evaluation and revision

  • Monitoring alignment: Regularly assessing the organization's alignment with the mission statement.
  • Adaptation: Making necessary adjustments to the statement as the organization evolves and grows.

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