Spencer Lanoue
Writing a team mission statement might seem like one of those tasks that gets pushed to the bottom of your to-do list. However, it's a powerful tool that can unify your team and give it a shared sense of purpose. In this post, we'll go through the steps to create a mission statement that truly resonates with your team and guides your collective efforts.
Why You Need a Mission Statement
A team mission statement is more than just a string of words. It's a declaration of your team's core purpose and focus that remains constant over time. It serves as a guide for making decisions and a way to align your team members around shared goals. When everyone knows what they're working toward, it boosts morale and productivity. And let's face it. Who doesn’t love a little extra motivation?
Think of your mission statement as a North Star. It's there to guide you when you're making tough decisions or when there's uncertainty. Without it, teams can easily become disjointed. Let's dig into how you can craft one that's effective and inspiring.
Gather Your Team
Before you even start writing, it's important to get everyone involved. A mission statement should be a reflection of the entire team, not just the management. Schedule a meeting and invite everyone to participate. Facilitate an open conversation about what your team values, what it aims to achieve, and how it plans to get there.
During the meeting, start by asking open-ended questions to get the conversation flowing. Here are some examples:
- What are we most passionate about as a team?
- What do we want our team to be known for?
- What impact do we want to have?
- How do we want to achieve our goals?
Encourage everyone to express their thoughts and listen actively. Take notes or record the session so you can refer back to this discussion when drafting the statement.
Identify Core Values
Your team's core values are the foundation of your mission statement. They define the principles that will guide your team's actions and decisions. These values should be aligned with the overall mission of your organization, but they can also reflect the unique culture of your team.
To identify these values, consider the following steps:
- Brainstorm: Ask team members to suggest words or phrases that describe what’s important to them in their work.
- Group and Refine: Combine similar ideas and refine the list to the most essential values.
- Prioritize: Choose the top three to five values that truly represent your team.
These core values will become the building blocks of your mission statement. They are the essence of who you are as a team and what you stand for.
Drafting the Statement
Now that you have your core values, it's time to start drafting the mission statement. This is where you put those values into words. Aim for a statement that is clear, concise, and memorable. Here's a simple structure you can use:
- Purpose: What is your team's primary goal?
- Values: What principles guide your work?
- Impact: What difference do you want to make?
Here's a quick example to illustrate:
"Our mission is to innovate and deliver exceptional digital solutions while fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment. We are committed to quality, integrity, and respect, aiming to make a positive impact on our clients and communities."
This statement clearly outlines the team's purpose, values, and desired impact. It's concise and easy to understand, making it a useful guide for team members.
Refining Your Draft
Once you have a draft, it's time to refine it. This is a crucial step because you want your mission statement to resonate with everyone on the team. Share the draft with the team and invite feedback. Ask the following questions:
- Does this statement accurately reflect our team's purpose and values?
- Is it clear and easy to understand?
- Is it inspiring and motivating?
Use the feedback to tweak the wording, adjust the focus, or clarify any ambiguous points. It might take a few rounds of revision, but that's perfectly normal. Remember, the goal is to create a statement that everyone feels connected to.
Make It Official
After finalizing the mission statement, make it official. This isn't just about sticking it on the wall, though that can be a nice touch. Incorporate it into your team's daily activities and decision-making processes. Here's how:
- Team Meetings: Start meetings by revisiting the mission statement to remind everyone of your shared goals.
- Decision-Making: Use it as a filter when making strategic decisions. Ask, "Does this align with our mission?"
- Performance Reviews: Integrate it into how you evaluate team and individual performances.
The more you refer to the mission statement, the more it will become an integral part of your team's culture.
Review and Revise
A mission statement isn't set in stone. As your team grows and evolves, so too should your mission statement. Schedule regular check-ins, perhaps annually, to review the statement and make any necessary updates. This ensures it remains relevant and continues to reflect your team's goals and values.
When reviewing, ask the team if the mission statement still resonates. Are there new challenges or opportunities that need to be addressed? Does the statement still align with the organization's overall mission?
Updating the mission statement doesn't mean the old one was wrong. It simply means your team is evolving, which is a positive sign of growth.
Examples of Great Team Mission Statements
Sometimes, seeing what others have done can ignite your creativity. Here are a few examples of strong team mission statements:
- Marketing Team: "To create innovative marketing strategies that drive brand growth, engage our customers, and foster a collaborative team environment."
- Development Team: "Our mission is to develop cutting-edge software solutions with a focus on quality, innovation, and user experience, while fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement."
- Customer Service Team: "To deliver exceptional customer service by building genuine relationships, solving problems efficiently, and exceeding customer expectations."
These examples are clear, focused, and align with the team's core values and overall purpose. They serve as effective guides for daily operations and strategic decision-making.
Using Spell for Your Mission Statement
If you're feeling stuck or need a little help, Spell can be a great tool to assist in drafting your team's mission statement. With Spell, you can swiftly generate a first draft by simply describing what you want. Its AI capabilities allow you to refine and edit your statement in real time, saving you time and effort. Imagine going from a blank page to a polished mission statement in minutes, all while collaborating with your team seamlessly. It's like having a built-in writing assistant that makes the process smoother and more efficient.
Final Thoughts
Crafting a team mission statement is a worthwhile endeavor that can set the tone for your team's culture and direction. By gathering your team, identifying core values, drafting, and refining your statement, you can create a powerful guiding document. And with Spell, you can streamline this process, making it quicker and more collaborative. With a strong mission statement in place, your team will be better equipped to navigate challenges and achieve its goals.
