Archive for July, 2006
Wishy-Washy Mishy Statements
By Christine Regan Lake
One of the most misunderstood and undervalued tools in business is the mission statement. The core problem with many of today’s mission statements is that there is a total disconnect between the mission statement and the day-to-day running of the business.
Writing It and Not Living It
I see many businesses that take the time to craft a painstakingly detailed mission statement and then hang it in a beautiful frame in the lobby and promote it on their website and of course include it in the company handbook and that’s it. There is no systematic application of that mission statement with respect to the way in which the company runs their business.
What people fail to realize, is that a mission statement is only as powerful as the actions taken to execute the values espoused in that statement and the consistency with which the company continually lives those values. If a company and its leaders do not live that mission statement, then neither will the employees. If the leader does not consciously live that mission statement and incorporate it into every action or decision that is made in the company, then it becomes impotent
and has no power what so ever.
A great company that exemplifies this is Ben and Jerry’s. See their mission statement and the corresponding initiatives that have evolved from that mission statement.
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