Creating a mission statement can help you focus your business effort and do a lot of good in bringing your workforce together behind a common theme. The key to success is not just creating a mission statement, it's living the mission statement.

A mission statement identifies the major purpose that you fulfill in providing products and services to customers. Your mission statement should:

• Include the reason for your business

• Identify your firm's unique 'value added'

• Reflect your firm's core business activity

• Provide a focus

• Identify the purpose you fulfill

Step One -- Develop your mission statement by identifying:

• Stakeholder(s)

• Products and Services

• Unique Value Added

Stakeholders - Those people who are directly affected by the company's successes and failures. Stakeholders could be employees, internal customers, organizational customers, external customers.

Products and Services - Items that you produce for your customers. Products and services might include consulting, training, products or

Value Added - The key advantage you provide over the competition. Why would a customer come to your company for service? What makes your company special?

Step Two -- Construct A First Draft

The [your company name] meets the [your products and services] needs of [stakeholders] by [value added].

Step Three -- Refine the Mission Statement

Is it too wordy? Is it brief and to the point? Will employees remember it? Would it make sense to your stakeholders? Is it a true mission statement and not a goal? Does it inspire your organization? Does it describe your business focus and effort? Is it unique?

Step Four -- Make It Visible

Post the mission statement for easy review by all employees and customers.

Step Five -- Live it! This step will be easy if you've involved your entire group in the process.

Author - Denise O'Berry