mission parts free sample
Well, there"s a good reason for it — because of their values which are expressed in their mission statement. As consumers, we like to patronize businesses that have values we believe in.
Still, Loyalty doesn’t happen overnight. Building brand loyalty, like creating mission and vision statements, takes time. If you’re in a bit of a time crunch, use this table of contents to find precisely what you’re looking for to inspire the development of your company’s mission:
A mission statement is an action-oriented statement declaring the purpose an organization serves to its audience. It often includes a general description of the organization, its function, and its objectives.
As a company grows, its objectives and goals may be reached, and in turn, they"ll change. Therefore, mission statements should be revised as needed to reflect the business"s new culture as previous goals are met.
The best brands combine physical, emotional, and logical elements into one exceptional customer (and employee) experience that you value as much as they do. A good mission statement will not only explain your brand’s purpose, but will also foster a connection with customers.
Your mission statement should clearly express what your brand does, how it does it, and why the brand does it. You can quickly sum this up in your mission statement by providing the following:
With these three components, you can create a mission that is unique to your brand and resonates with potential customers. Next, we’ll guide you step by step how to write a proper mission statement to build off of as your company evolves.
These are principles that not only company employees respect, but are principles that our customers appreciate as well. By identifying core values that hold meaning on personal and organizational levels, you’ll have an appealing set to add to your mission statement.
A mission statement can be as short as a single sentence, or as long as a paragraph, but it’s meant to be a short summary of your company’s purpose. You need to state the what, who and why of your company:
Above all, your mission statement is a marketing asset that is meant to be clear, concise, and free of fluff. It should clearly outline the purpose of your company offering and demonstrate the common goals the company is working to achieve. You should also have other team members or advisors read the mission statement and make adjustments if needed according to their recommendation.
Your company vision is meant to be inspirational while also aligning with the company’s mission. A vision statement should have the following characteristics:
General: Your vision should be broad enough to encompass all of your brand’s overall goals. Think of it in terms of an umbrella for your mission statement and company objectives to nest under.
Both mission and vision statements are often combined into one comprehensive "mission statement" to define the organization"s reason for existing and its outlook for internal and external audiences — like employees, partners, board members, consumers, and shareholders.
A mission statement clarifies what the company wants to achieve, who they want to support, and why they want to support them. On the other hand, a vision statement describes where the company wants a community, or the world, to be as a result of the company"s services. Thus, a mission statement is a roadmap for the company"s vision statement.
A mission statement is a literal quote stating what a brand or company is setting out to do. This lets the public know the product and service it provides, who it makes it for, and why it’s doing it. A vision statement is a brand looking toward the future and saying what it hopes to achieve through its mission statement. This is more conceptual, as it’s a glimpse into what the brand can become in the eyes of the consumer and the value it will bring in longevity.
Mission statements describe the current purpose a company serves. The company"s function, target audience, and key offerings are elements that are often mentioned in a mission statement.
Vision statements are a look into a company’s future or what its overarching vision is. The same elements from the mission statement can be included in a vision statement, but they"ll be described in the future tense.
Need more examples to build your mission statement? Download our free overview of mission statements – complete with 100 templates and examples to help you develop a stand-out mission statement.
There are tons of T-shirt companies in the world, but Life is Good"s mission sets itself apart with amission statement that goes beyond fun clothing: to spread the power of optimism.
This mission is perhaps a little unexpected if you"re not familiar with the company"s public charity: How will a T-shirt company help spread optimism? Life is Good answers that question below the fold, where the mission is explained in more detail using a video and with links to the company’s community and the Life is Good Kids Foundation page. We really like how lofty yet specific this mission statement is — it"s a hard-to-balance combination.
Notice that sweetgreen"s mission is positioned to align with your values — not just written as something the brand believes. We love the inclusive language used in its statement.
The mission to connect people is what makes this statement so strong. And, that promise has gone beyond sweetgreen"s website and walls of its food shops: The team has made strides in the communities where it"s opened stores as well. Primarily, it provides education to young kids on healthy eating, fitness, sustainability, and where food comes from.
Patagonia"s mission statement spotlights the company’s commitment to help the environment and save the earth. The people behind the brand believe that among the most direct ways to limit ecological impacts is with goods that last for generations or can be recycled so the materials in them remain in use.
If your company has a similar focus on growing your business and giving back, think about talking about both the benefit you bring to customers and the value you want to bring to a greater cause in your mission statement.
The longer-form version of the mission reads: "We believe that buying glasses should be easy and fun. It should leave you happy and good-looking, with money in your pocket," which further shows how Warby Parker doesn"t hold back on letting its unique personality shine through. Here, the mission statement"s success all comes down to spot-on word choice.
These days, it can seem like every B2B company page looks the same — but InvisionApp has one of the coolercompany pages I"ve seen. Scroll down to "Our Core Values," and hover over any of the icons, and you"ll find a short-but-sweet piece of the overall company mission under each one.
Honest Tea"s mission statement begins with a simple punch line connoting its tea is real, pure, and therefore not full of artificial chemicals. The brand is speaking to an audience that"s tired of finding ingredients in its tea that can"t be pronounced and has been searching for a tea that"s exactly what it says it is.
Not only does Honest Tea have a punny name, but it also centers its mission around the name. For some time, the company evenpublished a Mission Report each year in an effort to be "transparent about our business practices and live up to our mission to seek to create and promote great-tasting, healthier, organic beverages."
The folks at IKEA dream big. The vision-based mission statement could have been one of beautiful, affordable furniture, but instead, it"s to make everyday life better for its customers. It"s a partnership: IKEA finds deals all over the world and buys in bulk, then we choose the furniture and pick it up at a self-service warehouse.
When it comes to customer commitment, not many companies are as hyper-focused as Nordstrom is. Although clothing selection, quality, and value all have a place in the company"s mission statement, it’s crystal clear that it’s all about the customer: "Nordstrom works relentlessly to give customers the most compelling shopping experience possible."
If you"ve ever shopped at a Nordstrom, you"ll know the brand will uphold the high standard for customer service mentioned in its mission statement, as associates are always roaming the sales floors, asking customers whether they"ve been helped, and doing everything they can to make the shopping experience a memorable one.
Cradles to Crayons divided its mission and model into three sections that read like a game plan: The Need, The Mission, and The Model. The "rule of three" is a powerful rhetorical device called a tricolon that"s usually used in speechwriting to help make an idea more memorable. A tricolon is a series of three parallel elements of roughly the same length — think "I came; I saw; I conquered."
A company thrives when it pleases its customers, its employees, its partners, and its investors — and Universal Health Services endeavors to do just that, according to its mission statement. As a health care service, it specifically strives to please its patients, physicians, purchasers, employees, and investors. We love the emphasis on each facet of the organization by capitalizing the font and making it red for easy skimming.
JetBlue"s committed to its founding mission through lovable marketing, charitable partnerships, and influential programs — and we love the approachable language used to describe these endeavors. For example, the brand writes how it "set out in 2000 to bring humanity back to the skies."
Workday, a human resources (HR) task automation service, doesn"t use its mission statement to highlight the features of its product or how it intends to help HR professionals improve in such-and-such a way.
Instead, the business takes a stance on the state of enterprise software in general: There"s a lot of great tech out there. But at Workday, it revolves around the people. We love how confident yet kind this mission statement is. It observes the state of its industry — which Workday believes lacks a human touch — and builds company values around it.
If you know Prezi, you know how engaging it can make your next business presentation look. According to its mission statement, the company"s clever slide animations and three-dimensional experience aren"t just superficial product features. With every decision Prezi makes, it"s all about the story you tell and the audience that story affects.
A car company"s punny use of the word "accelerate" is just one reason this mission statement sticks out. However, Tesla makes this list because of how its mission statement describes the industry.
Ultimately, a mission statement that can admit to the industry"s immaturity is exactly what gets customers to root for it — and Tesla does that nicely.
Invisible Children is a non-profit that raises awareness around the violence affecting communities across Central Africa, and the company takes quite a confident tone in its mission.
The most valuable quality of this mission statement is that it has an end goal. Many companies" visions and missions are intentionally left open-ended so that the business might always be needed by the community. Invisible Children, on the other hand, wants to "end" the violence facing African families. It"s an admirable mission that all businesses — not just nonprofits — can learn from when motivating customers.
TED, which stands for "Technology Education and Design," has a two-word mission statement that shines through in every Talk you"ve seen the company publish on the internet. That mission statement: "Spread ideas." Sometimes, the best way to get an audience to remember you is to zoom out as far as your business"s vision can go. What do you really care about? TED has recorded some of the most famous presentations globally, but in the grand scheme of things, all it wants is to spread ideas around to its viewers.
Now that we’ve gone over successful mission statements, what does a good vision statement look like? Check out some of the following company vision statements — and get inspired to write one for your brand.
“Our vision is to improve sustainable farming practices across the globe.” This vision statement is ambitious and broad enough to be an umbrella statement in line with a brand"s mission.
Brand values play a much more significant role in customer loyalty than you think. Showing that your business understands its audience — and can appeal to them on an emotional level — could be the decision point for a customer’s next purchase. We hope you found some insight in this post that can help you brainstorm your inspiring vision and mission statements for your business.
It’s the pillar for why you exist and influences your decision making. It’s the best tool to connect with your audience and reach your full potential, and the benefits extend beyond marketing. Vision and mission statements are internal motivators, too, giving team members a cause to rally behind.
Though most small businesses know the importance of vision and mission statements, many struggle to write one. That’s normal! It’s not easy to create a clear summary of your company’s goals and values.
In this guide, you’ll learn the basics of mission and vision statements, with real-world examples from top brands, and tips for writing your own today.
A mission statement is usually part of your business plan when you start a business. It identifies your company’s purpose and is a way to publicly share why your company exists. Crafting your mission statement helps you unify your business and avoid potential business mistakes by keeping you on track.
A clear mission statement tells potential and existing customers what to expect from you and can provide your employees with direction, inspiration, and focus.
A vision statement articulates where you aspire to be once you achieve your mission. Often, it describes where you want certain people or the world to be as a result of your mission. Vision statements convey a long-term goal, generally a time range of five to 10 years, or beyond.
Your mission statement is essentially an action-oriented vision statement, declaring the who, what, and why of your retail business. Your mission statement can be the roadmap for your vision statement.
Yeti’s mission statement is effective because it focuses on its landmark product—premier coolers—and highlights the value it brings to customers. This statement tells customers the product is going to solve their problems, because the founders state how they were frustrated by unreliable coolers and outdoor accessories.
Passionfruit’s mission recognizes a truth for the LGBTQ+ community and allies alike. This statement is useful because it promotes the idea that pride is not a one-day event but an everyday expression of oneself.
Mission statement:To embrace a new breed of guys who have incredible energy, a passion for life, wisdom gained from years of experience and the time to spend doing the activities they enjoy. Old Guys Rule should be worn as a badge of honor for a life well spent but not nearly over.
Old Guys Rule’s mission statement stands out because it focuses on its target audience. The brand embraces its customers’ strengths of wisdom and experience, with the goal of being a most-loved apparel brand. It makes you feel proud of your age and accomplishments, rather than feeling bad about “getting old.”
What’s more, many elements in this mission statement are empowering. So when Old Guys Rule says it should be worn as “a badge of honor,” customers feel excited to wear its clothes and be proud of who they are.
Mission statement:To breathe new life into the motorcycle streetwear scene. We are a brand that acknowledges those individual riders who ride for freedom, not for ego.
In Ride Rich’s mission statement, the brand challenges the status quo for motorcycle riders. This statement captures a specific rider: the “individuals who ride for freedom.” It’s a great mission statement because it describes how it goes about its business. If you want creative streetwear based on art, music, and experiences that everyday riders encounter, Ride Rich is your brand.
Mission statement:The Spoiled Mama knows great skin never goes out of style. That’s why we’ve combined Mother Nature with science to give new moms (and their little humans) the best skin care available. Our collection addresses the most common needs of pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding mothers, so you can enjoy being a Mama … without all the drama.
This mission statement from The Spoiled Mama has one clear goal: give new moms and their kids the best skin care around. Its statement ties in with the brand’s philosophy of finding sisterhood in motherhood and helping mothers take care of themselves and their babies.
In many ways, The Spoiled Mama’s mission statement builds community. Whether you’re newly pregnant or breastfeeding, you know The Spoiled Mama is a place you can turn to for skin care, strength, and support.
Tesla’s mission statement is significant because it speaks to the brand’s commitment to the environment and changing the automobile industry. It also makes customers feel like allies in this endeavor.
Tesla uses inspirational language in both its mission and vision statements. By focusing on sustainability, the brand resonates with customers and employees who genuinely care about the environment. It also gives them a platform to expand into other solutions, like energy storage and solar.
Nike’s mission statement is a classic. It’s effective because it puts the company’s priorities out in the open. The asterisk next to “athlete” leads to a footnote stating, “If you have a body, you are an athlete.” This shows customers that anyone can use Nike’s products.
This mission statement is short, sweet, and to the point. It doesn’t use big words or sentences to express its goals. It communicates exactly what Starbucks wants to be and for whom. The statement makes it about more than just coffee—it’s about creating a culture of warmth and inclusivity, where everyone feels welcomed and at home.
TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to spreading ideas in the form of short, powerful talks known as TED Talks. Its mission statement is concise but represents the brand’s larger goal to welcome “people from every discipline and culture who seek a deeper understanding of the world.” TED is building a free library of knowledge both online and in-person, composed of the world’s greatest thinkers, to inspire people to engage and share ideas with each other.
This mission statement is perfect for the brand. It’s brief, clear, and uses active words. It also expresses its deep commitment to professionals using the platform. The company’s goals are to help people create and maintain relationships that will help them grow in their careers.
Microsoft’s mission statement is inclusive and shows its focus is on helping all people. The company expresses its values by taking the well-being of Its employees seriously. It does this by giving all employees free health care and other lifestyle and well-being benefits. It also has company initiatives promoting innovation, diversity, and corporate responsibility.
This mission statement shows Microsoft is more than just a software company. It’s a member of society that wishes to help others better themselves and, through that, better the world.
Mission statement: Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Amazon strives to be Earth’s most customer-centric company, Earth’s best employer, and Earth’s safest place to work.
Nordstrom’s aim is to only offer its customers the best—the best products, the best service, the best experience possible. Its mission statement perfectly describes its company spirit of going above and beyond. It also states how Nordstrom is not just a simple retailer like Walmart. It is and always has been a high-end business that prides itself on offering its customers the exceptional.
Patagonia specializes in creating clothing and gear for outdoor enthusiasts. Its mission statement is as simple as you can get. Five words and one sentiment—save our planet. And it makes sense why this would be important for it: Its entire company is built around encouraging people to explore the outdoors, and people can’t do that if our planet dies.
Patagonia actually used to have the mission statement “To build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis.” Then, in late 2019, the brand chose a new mission statement focusing on more than just sustainability, and instead aiming to actively save our planet. It even shut down all its stores and offices in September of that same year so its employees could strike alongside youth climate activists.
Mission statement:Dedication to the highest quality of customer service delivered with a sense of warmth, friendliness, individual pride, and company spirit.
Southwest’s mission statement perfectly captures the company spirit of care. Regional director James Ashworth said it best: “We believe if we take good care of our employees, they will take good care of our customers. And that commitment drives our culture.”
Magic Spoon’s clear mission statement shows it’s looking to the future. More than offering a simple product, its aim is to revolutionize the cereal industry. It wants to marry health with childhood joy—and from its mission statement to its packaging, the company’s goal is clear.
Its mission statement shows they care about your dog. On its website, it includes information on dog anxiety and how it affects your pup’s health. And it even offers a quiz to help you pick out the best bed for your dog.
Keeping it simple makes it easier to convey the goal and purpose of your business in a way that’s easy to understand, making your mission statement more effective and memorable.
When you’re drafting your mission statement, it’s crucial to keep in mind what makes your company different. Why is your retail business unique and special compared to others who sell similar quality products? Share your specific story rather than being general to the point that any other company could use your mission statement as its own.
When you’re crafting your mission statement, always keep your target audience in mind. Your messaging needs to match the wants and needs of these potential customers.
For example, Shopify says its mission is to “make commerce better for everyone, so businesses can focus on what they do best: building and selling their products.” This statement creates the expectation in Shopify merchants that they’ll build successful online businesses using the platform.
Don’t fall into the trap of making your mission statement so elaborate that you lose touch with what your business can realistically achieve. Stay grounded in how your retail business serves customers right now. You can use forthcoming and inspirational language in your vision statement.
Think about the terminology and keywords or phrases you can use in your mission statement to make it unforgettable. You don’t need readers to be able to recite your entire mission statement, but make it catchy so people begin to associate prime aspects of your mission statement with your company.
Mission statements are all about how your retail business solves a problem, fills a need, or makes an aspect of life easier for your target customer. It’s essential to avoid negative language in your mission statement.
Whether you’re writing a personal mission statement or one for your business, there’s no doubt it’s a winning strategy for achieving your goals. Using the sample mission statements above, you’re well on your way to crafting a great vision for your business.
All in all, writing a mission statement is easy with the right knowledge, tools, and a little bit of time. If you’re short on time, you can use a free mission statement generator to create one for you.
A good mission statement is a clear, concise statement about why your business exists, what its overall goals are, what products or services it provides, its target market, and where it operates.
According toChris Bart, a leading expert in helping organizations develop mission and vision statements, three essential parts of a mission statement are:
A mission statement explains your company’s purpose. You should write a mission statement when starting a business so you have a clear idea of what you stand for. Read on to learn how to write an effective mission statement that can help you tackle company goals.
It’s natural to face challenges when leading teams and managing projects, and one way to push forward despite the hard times is to remember your “why.” Your company mission defines why you do what you do, who you do it for, and the impact you’ll create by doing it. When you know your mission, you’ll feel good about where your company is going, even through ups and downs.
Typically, you"ll write a mission statement when you start a business so you have a clear idea of what you stand for. A mission statement rarely changes unless the company changes directions or rebrands. Read on to learn how to write an effective mission statement that can help you tackle your business goals.
A mission statement is a brief declaration of your company’s what, who, and why. You should share this statement with everyone in your organization so team members understand your collective goals. While a mission statement isn’t specifically for marketing, you’ll likely share it externally as well. This is why it’s important to write it eloquently.
Once you’ve solidified your core values and initiatives, you’ll have an easier time expanding on those ideas and getting the message out to your audience.Free mission statement template
Your mission statement isn’t something you can craft by yourself. Before you sit down to draft it, recruit other senior and executive leaders at your company who have a sense of what you’re aiming for. Together, use the steps below to get to the root of what your company stands for and the message you want to spread.
Consider having each member of your mission statement tiger team answer these questions separately, then pool your answers together. Your mission statement should be evergreen, so think about it in a way that incorporates business growth. It’s important to consider what your company’s purpose is in the context of what your future might be.
Now that you have the ideas for your mission statement, you need the right words. Use brainstorming techniques to help you and the other leaders at your company come with creative ways to express yourselves. The goal is to inspire your team without sounding cliché or overly complex.
Now that you have solid ideas about what to put in your mission statement and creative ways to express those ideas, you can start experimenting with what sounds best. The following formulas can help you get started:To [contribution/goal] so [impact].
Our mission is to increase the value and visibility of contentby offering content marketing services for companies sothey can build strong relationships with their audiences.
Draft a few versions of your mission statement so you can ask for feedback from current team members. Because the mission statement applies to everyone, it’s nice to include everyone in the feedback process—even if executive feedback gets slightly more weight. Don’t rush through the writing process. Take your time and get your mission statement to a place everyone is comfortable with.
Collaborate with your team by holding a Q&A session or by sending out surveys to ask which version of the mission statement resonates with them most. That way, once you complete your statement, you’ll feel confident that the result was a team effort.
After collecting feedback, revise your mission statement as needed. Then, finalize it and share it with the rest of the organization. You can also include it in your business plan and share it on your website.
Your mission statement explains your company’s purpose to those working for the company, stakeholders who may get involved with the company, and customers or clients who may spend money at the company. While you shouldn’t craft your mission statement for selling, it’s something you should be proud of and will likely want to display.Read: Client management: How to attract and retain happy clients
Most companies share their mission statements with the public, either front and center on their websites, or in an easily searchable location. By making your mission statement visible to the clients and customers, companies show what they stand for and what they strive to achieve—both as an internal workforce and with the products or services they sell.
At Asana, our mission statement explains who we serve and what we want our impact to be on the world. While we have various goals we work toward as a company, our mission statement is our guiding principle among all others.
PayPal’s statement is more product-focused, but it’s still effective. Businesses may imply the impact they hope to make by explaining the unique features of their product offering. PayPal’s mission is to create the best product possible for customers because doing so will improve lives.
Patagonia’s mission statement is complex, but it shows that their company has many layers beyond the clothing they sell. While on the surface, Patagonia offers outdoor gear, they set themselves apart from other companies by keeping the environment front of mind in all they do.
Using a mission statement template can help you centralize your company’s most important information. Below, you’ll see how a content marketing company would’ve answered fundamental questions about their business and used those answers to design their mission statement with the provided formula.
Your mission statement is a building block for everything your team does. When you get it right, it leads to a stronger team dynamic in the workplace, more successful projects, and happier customers. Your mission statement should:Define your brand to team members:Give your team clarity on what product you’re creating, why you’re creating it, and who you’re creating it for.
Many people use a mission statement and vision statement interchangeably, and while some companies combine the two, they have different meanings. A mission statement is your company’s “why” statement—in other words, your company’s purpose. Consider your mission statement as what you’re currently trying to achieve.
A vision statement can be a “how” statement or a future-focused statement. It should paint a broad picture of how you want to achieve your mission. Sometimes, companies incorporate the vision statement within their mission statement so they can state and explain their mission simultaneously.
Your mission statement is the launchpad for your company’s success. It states what you want to achieve and serves as a constant reminder of your purpose. But the only way to accomplish your mission is with small, everyday actions. A goal is just a dream until you put a process in place.
With work management software, you can set up workflows, schedules, and tasks that align with your mission statement and make your purpose a reality. Asana helps you create a purposeful and productive work experience for all your team members by giving them the clarity they need to achieve their goals.Free mission statement template
More than just a planning exercise, a mission statement focuses your leadership team, inspires employees, and communicates your core values to the larger world.
A mission statement is one of the most important documents in your company’s arsenal, but it’s also one of the most difficult to craft. We’ve gathered 16 of the best company mission statement examples to help get your creativity flowing.
Level up with a mission statement video: Deliver your mission statement with the most engaging communication medium — video. Turn your company’s mission statement into a video with Biteable. Start with a brandable mission statement video template and let Biteable’s smart editing features do all the heavy lifting for you.
A mission statement sums up the core of who your company is and why it exists. It’s raison d’etre, if you want to get fancy and speak a little French.
When done right, your company’s mission statement acts as a powerful driver that informs every aspect of your organization, from daily operations, to customer loyalty, to employee satisfaction. When done wrong, a mission statement is just another line of jargon everyone pretty much ignores.
Take the Starbucks company mission statement as an example: To inspire and nurture the human spirit – one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time.
Did your eyes glaze over on that second one? Ours too. While technically true, our made-up example of a company mission statement is full of dreaded corporate-speak. It belongs deep in the bowels of a strategic plan, not as it’s headline.
On the other hand, the real Starbucks mission statement makes us want to be a part of it all. And even more than that, it conveys a sense of the beating heart behind the company.
A vision statement is aspirational. It outlines where your company strives to be in the future — whether that is one year from now or ten. In contrast, a mission statement spells out where your company is right now.
Think of your company’s vision statement as a long-term goal post. The end point towards which you are working. If your vision statement is a goal post, then your mission statement is what drives you toward that goal post.
You’ll probably write your company mission statement during your strategic planning because it’s a valuable tool that helps your leadership team make big-picture decisions. Chances are, you’ll even look at examples of other company mission statements to help you craft your own.
But it doesn’t stop there. It is equally important to put your money where your mouth is, so to speak. If your company mission places value on the environment, do you give your employees opportunities to act upon these values in their everyday work life?
The most effective company mission statements are clear and actionable, from the products a company makes all the way down to the food in the employee cafeteria.
After you brainstorm answers to these questions, review your answers and highlight the concepts that are central to your company. You might also pick a few company mission statement examples from businesses you admire and use those to help guide you.
This group process might seem cumbersome, but remember, your company mission statement is a core document. It should reflect the thought processes of as many stakeholders as possible.
After you land on a mission statement, do one final check to make sure it meets these criteria:Plausibility: Your mission statement is big-picture, but it should ultimately tie back to your everyday business operations. At least in a broad sense.
Voice: Now isn’t the time to be dry and boring. Use language that’s active and compelling. Your mission statement should reflect the unique voice and culture of your company.
Pro-tip: Give your mission statement more reach by creating both a text and video version. The video can be simple, just an eye-catching background, animated text, and a soundtrack.
Include your mission statement video as part of hiring announcements or other HR video communications. Or send it over to your marketing team to use as a Facebook cover, website content, and more.
Why it works: We touched on the Starbucks mission statement earlier, but we’ll elaborate more here. We included this example of the Starbucks company mission statement because it works well for two reasons: it’s ambitious without being overreaching, and it uses down-to-earth language.
Why it works: As a company committed to creating “clean” baby products, a mission of meaningful transparency and thoughtful design is two-fold. It’s a necessary part of their business practices, and it also speaks to consumers looking for a higher standard in their products.
Being on a “mission to change the world” might be a bit of a stretch. But considering the baby products market is projected to be worth $88.72 billion US dollars worldwide by 2026, maybe it isn’t such a huge stretch after all.
Why it works: Patagonia is often used as a good company mission statement example, and for a reason. Although it’s wildly lofty, the company really does put their money where their mouth is.
This isn’t to say the company is focused on something other than tech. But by concentrating on the “why” not the “what” of the business, this mission statement example remains flexible and agile. No matter where the market moves, Microsoft aims to increase productivity with it’s products.
Why it works: The company’s extended mission statement goes on to say: No one should be left out of the economy because the cost is too great or the technology too complex.
Similar to Microsoft’s mission statement, Square leaves room for agility here. It aims to produce simple, low-cost payment products, regardless of where the market takes it. We also appreciate Square’s focus on who the company serves and why.
According to Pinterest, the platform was originally conceived as “a tool to help people collect the things they were passionate about online.” It quickly became clear that people most enjoy using the site to get inspiration from others. And with this, Pinterest’s current mission was born.
It speaks to Target’s affordable products, geared toward everyday people. But this mission statement can also easily extend to the company’s focus on community giving, corporate responsibility, and creating a positive employee experience.
Why it works: Maybe you can chalk it up to the company’s southern roots, but Southwest consistently ranks high for customer service. Its mission of connecting people to what’s important in their lives touches on this value.
When you write your mission statement, it’s important not to confuse the two. But for marketing purposes, wrapping a mission statement and a vision statement up into one shiny package sometimes works very well.
Why it works: We admit, we like the asterisk more than we like the actual mission statement. Nike outfits some of the biggest names in professional sports, but its mission specifies “if you have a body, you are an athlete.” The word “inclusion” doesn’t appear in the company’s mission statement, but it says it — and then some — in so many words.
Why it works: This isn’t one of the most inventive examples of a company mission statement, and it also seems somewhat obvious for a drugstore. But CVS embodies its mission in some pretty bold ways. In 2014, it became the first national pharmacy in the US to stop selling cigarettes and tobacco products.
Although Harley enthusiasts might balk at the idea, the company is as much a lifestyle brand as it is a motorcycle manufacturer. And that lifestyle delivers just what is promised in the company’s mission statement: adventure and freedom. And a whole lot of leather.
Why it works: The company’s mission statement combines seamlessly with their vision statement, which says, “We believe beauty should be a source of confidence, and not anxiety.”
Why it works: Because selling products and services to consumers isn’t part of the equation, nonprofit mission statements differ from those of their for-profit counterparts. But we included Livestrong here, because it has such a unique mission statement.
Very few mission statements are in the form of a question. This was very intentional on the part of Livestrong. As the company puts it on their mission page, “We have a Mission Question, not a Mission Statement, because we believe that we can only achieve the best solutions through asking the right questions.”
Why it works: This is another company mission statement example that makes the rounds on the best-of lists. You can almost imagine the lengthy thought process that transpired as TED execs winnowed their mission statement down to just two words. Two words! But that’s all they need.
This mission statement doesn’t say they are “creating opportunities for…” or “gathering the brightest minds to…” They do all of these things as well. But at the very core of the organization, their mission is to spread ideas.
These company mission statement examples are just a sample of what’s possible when a company really takes the time to craft a thoughtful mission statement. To help you write yours, here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about mission statements.
A company mission statement should include one or two strong, well-written sentences that talk about why a company exists, the value it brings to its customers, the core beliefs that drive its work, and what sets it apart from other companies doing similar work.
A strong mission statement is short and actionable. The strongest company mission statements are written in accessible language (no corporate speak) that reflects a company’s unique culture and voice. A good mission statement is lofty, but also ties back to a company’s everyday business practices.
Coca Cola’s mission statement is “to refresh the world in mind, body, and spirit, to inspire moments of optimism and happiness through our brands and actions, and to create value and make a difference.”
Is your mission statement falling flat? Give it wings by turning mission inspiration into video sensation. Biteable is the video maker designed with business communications in mind. With hundreds of workplace-ready templates and brandable video scenes, you can create your first video in less time than it takes to ask “What is our purpose, anyway?”
People are drawn to personalities, not faceless brands. When you think of great companies, you probably imagine Apple and Nike. However, behind the brand is a mission you connect with on an emotional level. A mission statement humanizes a brand and makes it attractive to investors, potential employees, and customers.
Your mission and vision statement is the driving force of your organization. It’s the foundation that shapes and influences everything you do, from internal communications to marketing. It’s why your employees show up in the morning.
In the famous words of Simon Sinek, “Customers will never love a company until the employees love it first.” Likewise, a mission statement instills a passion for your company’s purpose in employees, leading to increased performance and profitability.
A business mission statement is a concise and memorable way to communicate your business goals to clients, employees, and stakeholders. Mission statements are usually within a paragraph or sentence length.
Include your mission statement as part of a business plan under the executive summary. You could also post your mission statement on your company website for external and internal stakeholders to read.
It’s important to note that a mission and vision statement are not the same. The vision statement describes the goals you want to achieve in the future, while the mission statement explains how you plan to achieve the vision.
A mission statement gives your organization a focus target. It provides a strong sense of direction that influences decisions, strategies, and future plans. Everything you do aligns with your overarching goals. As a result, you’re focused on the bigger picture instead of getting caught up in short-term business performance.
A mission statement is the main criterion you use to measure business progress. You know you’re succeeding when your product, services, and actions align with your mission.
When a potential employee is trying to learn about your company, they navigate to the about us section of your organization’s website. The mission statement tells them about your culture, values, and beliefs. Candidates are more likely to gravitate towards your organization when they see your team living your company mission.
A Gallup research of nearly 50,000 businesses showed that mission-driven leadership encourages employees to:View their organizational contributions more broadly
Your organization’s purpose Is essential to employees. A Deloitte survey revealed much higher levels of employee engagement (73%) in a purpose-driven company. A mission statement keeps your employees united, committed, and driven towards a common goal.
A public mission statement keeps you accountable for the goals you’ve set out to achieve. Your customers know the claims you’ve made, and they hold you to that standard. The same applies to your in-house teams and partners who feel encouraged to strive for the company goals in all they do.
Internal branding is the process of communicating your mission and vision to your employees. It helps employees understand how they fit into your company’s long-term goals. In addition, employees develop an emotional connection to your company when you have a strong internal brand.
For this step, gather the founders and stakeholders in a room. You may include your business coach or top managers in this session. Your goal is to establish a clear purpose of your mission statement by answering the following questions:What do we do?
From the answers, you’ll notice several words, sentences, or phrases that keep coming up. As you develop ideas from these themes, remember the following:While your mission statement is lofty and audacious, it should also be attainable.
Use the recurring words or themes from the answers to form the base of the mission statement. Then, ask everyone involved to say what comes to mind based on the theme. Some will sound great; others not so much—but that’s okay!
Remember those mission statements from other companies you liked? Take a second look at the structure of their mission statement to see how you can replicate it in yours.Pro tip:Looking for a way to save time? Use the mission statement templates we’ve provided in this article to speed up the process.
A long mission statement is hard to remember. If nobody remembers the mission statement, then it has no impact. Limit sentences to 10-20 words. Avoid words longer than four syllables or 12 letters. Don’t use more than a one-word string (A, B, and C).
A mission statement that inspires you isn’t necessarily going to inspire others. Hence, asking for feedback ensures that everyone understands your message.
Get feedback from employees, customers, and even board members. Questions you want to answer in the feedback include:How does the mission statement make you feel?
Use the feedback to improve the mission statement. Once you’ve arrived at the final version, update all company materials to reflect the new mission statement. When sharing your mission statement, remember you have two audiences:Your customers and partners
Living your mission starts with the onboarding process. First, include your mission in the employee handbook and onboarding documents. Next, add the mission statement to your careers page, workplace posters, paycheck stubs, offer letters, and internal communications platform.
Asana’s CEO, Justin Rosenstein, has an interesting process for reinforcing the company’s mission to employees. First, he walks up to an employee and asks what they’re working on. The answer is usually related to a current project. Again, he asks why they’re working on the project, and when they respond, he asks why again. He follows this chain until the answer leads to the company’s mission statement.
If you’re using Guru as your internal communication tool, you can share updates to your company mission using announcements. These ensure that everyone in the organization sees it and you can see who read critical information.
When it comes to writing a mission statement, the best way to have an impact is to make it unique and powerful. Every organization wants to be a leader, but using the term in your mission statement is simply too common and tends to fall flat.
Some readers may confuse a tagline with a mission statement. A tagline is usually a few words that describe your organization, but it doesn’t replace your mission statement.
Factsheets are great for information. But nobody ever read a factsheet and came away feeling inspired to do more. So, avoid being passive or descriptive with your mission statement. Instead, think of the bigger picture of what guides your company strategy and motivates your employees.
Don’t take yourself too seriously or give in to the trap to sound serious and professional. The best mission statement is infused with humanity and reflects your company’s personality.
When Rick Nucci and Mitch Stewart built Guru, they had one goal in mind: To create a product that gives people the knowledge they needed to do their jobs right inside the tools they already work with. The mission statement perfectly encapsulates the overarching goal of Guru which is to make knowledge easily accessible. We are also guided by these core values listed on our about us page.
There are several core values that American Express promotes in its mission and vision statement:American Express is building a respected service brand that prioritizes customer services and offers unique products and services
If you love green energy and care about the environment, then Tesla’s mission and vision statement will resonate with you. Tesla’s goal is perhaps one of the most ambitious you’ll see in this list. They wanted to revolutionize the automobile industry through electric vehicles that are safe to drive without sacrificing performance.
If you’ve watched a Nike commercial, then you’ve seen them living their mission. For Nike, an athlete isn’t just a professional with a sports career. It’s the teenager in the Middle East playing soccer while wearing her hijab. It’s the young, Black kid who loves basketball and dreams of going pro one day.
Interestingly, there’s no mention of apparel or sneakers in their mission statement. It’s clever because it doesn’t limit Nike. Instead, it allows them to expand and evolve with consumer needs.
A few ways that Nike achieves their mission include:Designing the Vaporfly Next% shoes helped Kenya runner Eliud Kipchoge become the first human to run 26.2 miles under 2 hours. It remains one of the greatest achievements in sports.
The third component, “on the planet,” shows that Microsoft is a global brand, and everyone who comes in contact with a product can benefit. They live their company mission by fostering an innovative culture that encourages employees and customers to reach their full potential.
According to Asana, the first half of the statement “help humanity thrive” is the mission statement, and the second half, “enabling the world’s teams,” is the vision statement.
Asana is one of the best examples of living a company’s mission. They treat culture as a product, and they’re committed to empowering their employees to thrive. Asana values teamwork, co-creation, and doing things fast.
The Alzheimer’s Association achieves its mission in the following ways:All care and support services are focused on providing timely and accurate diagnoses as well as increasing the quality of care for people living with Alzheimer’s
The Women’s Center’s mission statement is comprehensive and direct. They clearly state their desired impact on improving the mental health and well-being of all members. They also show the howthrough education, counseling, and support.
The mission statement of the American Red Cross is easy to understand. They aim to alleviate human suffering during emergencies through the support of donors and volunteers.
Whether you’re writing your first draft or updating your mission statement, our mission and vision templates give you an easy format to simplify the process.
Make your templates accessible for everyone by storing and managing them on Guru. In addition, you can download a range of mission, vision, and business templates and customize them to fit your organization’s needs.
As your organization grows, your objectives and mission can (and should) change. Think of all the places you shared your old statement, from internal resources to external-facing documents. If you’ve documented the placement, it’s easy to make changes at once. Start with a press release to promote your updated mission. Next, send an email to your customer base and stakeholders informing them of the updated mission. Finally, use Guru to share new changes with your employees and partners.
A mission statement defines the goals of your organization and how you plan to reach those objectives. The vision statement is where you hope to be in the future.
What makes a good mission statement? Is it a succinct sentence that captures your company purpose, a catchy slogan, or something more? The best mission statements leave a lasting impression of your brand in the minds of your consumers, encouraging them to choose you over another vendor. A quality mission statement incorporates your companycore valuesand reflects your organization’s personality. So, how do you get started with crafting your own? And which companies are doing it right?
Let’s first explore what a mission statement is, how to craft one, and then review 12 examples of amazing mission statements crafted by leading enterprises.
A mission statement provides perfect clarity behind the “what,” the “who,” and the “why,” of your company. The best mission statements are guidelines by which a company operates. Everything you do as a company should work toward your mission statement.
Most mission statements are between one and three sentences, never exceeding 100 words. The best mission statements are typically a single succinct sentence, so keep this in mind when crafting yours.
Your company’s mission statement should be communicated to employees before their first day on the job. It should be highlighted on all your recruiting and onboarding materials, and employees should know it by heart. After all, this is the mission your employees should be aligned with every day. Otherwise, they’ll come into workfeeling aimlessand struggling to understand their purpose.
To craft a compelling mission statement, you’ll need to follow a few steps. First, be careful: you don’t want to fall into the trap of accidentally creating avision statement, which is different than a mission statement. A vision statement describes what a company aspires to be, as opposed to what it is now.
Ensure every member of leadership is involved in this process. Take notes during your interviews and observe similarities and differences between the answers. Do you see certain themes or topics emerging? If so, you can use these to shape your mission statement.
Next, review the common themes that emerged during your conversations, distilling them into paragraphs. You’ll want to set aside several hours to do this, or even an entire day. It’s important that you carve out the necessary time to spend on this process since crafting a mission statement is critical to identifying the motivations behind your business. When developing ideas, keep the following in mind:Your mission statement should be attainable. Your company should be working toward it already and it should be possible to achieve.
Once you have these paragraphs written, rewrite each to be more succinct. Eliminate as many unnecessary sentences as you can. Once you have each paragraph distilled down to three sentences, challenge yourself to combine these sentences into a single thought that encapsulates your theme. Do this with every theme you’ve discovered during your interviews and you’ll end up with several options for a mission statement to present to leadership.
The best mission statements incorporate your company’s unique personality. Your mission statement should not be devoid of humanity — while it’s tempting to create a mission statement that presents your company as a professional and serious organization, it’s more important (and ultimately more beneficial) to reflect the culture that makes your company unique.
Bogging down your mission statement withbuzzwords and jargonis a common misstep companies make when crafting mission statements. The best mission statements are comprised of simple, clear language that directly communicates a company’s purpose.
Once you have identified a few options for your mission statement, present them to leadership and get feedback. Be prepared to hear a lot of conflicting opinions — this is all part of the process! Mission statements don’t evolve in a vacuum, and it will take time to iterate on your ideas.
Asana’s warm and friendly marketing aligns well with their mission statement. They have adapted the common tech-friendly sentiment of “making the world a better place,” but they have incorporated their own unique spin on this value by turning its focus toward their product. While this mission statement might be vague, they narrow their focus just enough to make their mission statement feel personalized to their company.“Bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete in the world.*
This mission statement is unique for several reasons: it encapsulates Workday’s stance that they are an enterprise software, dedicated to standing out among competitors. Simultaneously, it takes a look at the HR software industry as a whole, making a pointed statement that, ironically, even in the HR space, people are often at the wayside. This is a confident mission statement that not only observes the state of the industry but also supports Workday’s values in tandem.
After you have created your mission statement, be sure to communicate it to your workforce. After all, you don’t want to invest this time and effort only to have your mission statement lose impact.
Meet with your CEO and leadership team to present your mission statement, take questions, and address any feedback. Once leadership has approved your mission statement, begin introducing it into your workplace. Send out a company-wide message to employees informing them of your new mission statement. Include your mission statement on collateral, make posters to hang throughout your offices, and regularlyrecognizeemployees who can recite your mission statement from memory.
This is also a good opportunity to reinforce your company’score valuesby identifying and rewarding behaviors that align with them. Your mission statement should align with your core values, so use this chance to reward your team for embodying your company’s purpose and values. This positive reinforcement helps spread awareness about your new mission statement as well as boost morale. As a result, your company culture becomes even more appealing. With time, effort, and a strong mission statement, your company will be on the right track to focus on purpose and meaning.
The data on the "Finding Parts" pages is actually all in a Wiki (a webpage that anyone, even you, can edit!) If you have suggestions or ideas for other companies or sources you can post it in the forum
The brands and businesses that we really connect with do more than just supply a product or service. They showcase a purpose, a mission that we can get behind. This can be displayed in how they interact with customers, the organizations and communities they support and even the way they develop their products. And there’s no better way for a business owner to showcase this purpose, then through a well-written mission statement.
A mission statement is a simple action-oriented statement that explains your company’s purpose. It summarizes what your company does for customers, employees, and owners, and typically includes general descriptions of your organization, its core function, and its goals. In short, you’re explaining what you do and why you do it within a mission statement.
Depending on the focus of your business, your mission statement may be even broader. Explaining not just how you serve your customers and employees, but your community and the world at large. Some businesses even opt to separate this larger aspiration into what’s known as a vision statement.
If we were looking at OKR’s (objectives and key results) this would serve as your larger objective. Your mission statement would then be the key results, or steps, you need to take to get there. Again, this is typically an aspirational representation of the purpose of your business. That doesn’t mean the end goal of the statement is impossible, but it is meant to be something that you’re pushing yourself, and your business, to achieve.
These two statements aren’t really interchangeable. They both reflect the purpose and goals of your business, but serve completely different purposes. Your mission statement should serve as the roadmap to achieve your vision statement. And your vision statement should serve as the guiding light for the aspirations of your business.
These can be completely separate written statements for your business, or they can be combined into a more comprehensive mission statement. Having all three does allow you to utilize them for different business purposes, so it may be worth developing variations over time.
Speaking of variations, it’s important to note that your mission statement will likely evolve over time as your business grows and changes. So, don’t be afraid to make adjustments when it seems necessary and avoid looking for the perfect version of your mission statement.
I’ve had a 30-year love-hate relationship with mission statements. I’ve read thousands. I love it when a mission statement defines a business so well that it feels like strategy—which does happen—and I hate it when a mission statement is generic, stale, and completely useless.
Just because a traditional business plan often includes a mission statement isn’t a reason to do one. If it’s not g