It's Your Mission?

by Mark McClanahan

Are your mission and vision statements displayed for all to see? Maybe they’re on walls around the office or on the front and back of T-shirts, or maybe they’re displayed on coffee mugs.  That’s a good start and unfortunately where many companies stop.  

Merely making an announcement and printing your statements for display will not unleash the power of these fundamental tools. As a test to see how you’re doing, poll your employees to find out what percentage of your team has these memorized. Your score will most likely indicate an alignment gap between the efforts of your employees that fit the company’s direction and work that’s counter to it.  

To improve this gap, here are three methods I’ve used to deepen the impact of these important messages:

1) Use a company meeting to drill down into each statement. Break up into facilitated small groups. Each group should focus on one statement, allowing plenty of time for questions and discussion. At a designated time, rotate groups to give each employee a chance to discuss each statement.  

2) For every meeting you lead, make it a priority to use the mission and vision statements in your discussions. They could be implied or used explicitly. In addition, use them in meeting purpose statements at the tops of agendas. This helps keep it all top of mind.  

3) Regularly make it fun. One way to do this is to randomly ask someone to rattle off a mission or vision statement. Those who get it right are rewarded with a gift card. Mission and vision statements are not meant to be stagnant. They should be woven into every place possible by your management team. After all, it’s your mission!

Mark McClanahan (mmcclanahan@callmosby.com or 314.909.1800) is the chief operating officer at Mosby Building Arts.