How to Write A Mission Statement
Leaders need a personal mission statement to direct their life towards great things.
I define a mission statement as a captivating statement that connects a leader to who they are and who they want to become, while articulating their values and life’s purpose.
A great mission statement is captivating and inspiring. It determines our purpose and answers the question, ‘Who am I?’
Here is the process I would like to recommend for leaders hoping to write one:
1 – Find a place to work without interruptions
This could be a coffee shop, a room, or library. We can put our phones on silent and dedicate a good chunk of time to work on it. I prefer cozy environments with great ambiance; hence I recommend working at a coffee shop with a good Espresso.
2 – Journal with these suggested compelling questions
“What strengths and talents do I have to offer the world?”
“What is the greatest need I see that I can fulfill?”
“What gives me the most energy?”
“Who do I want to be remembered as during my future eulogy?”
“What are 5 words I would like to be described as?”
“What could be my mission or purpose in life?”
“What is important to me?”
We can also ask ourselves other questions; this is not an exhaustive list.
3 – Spend a few extra moments and dream
I believe each person has a unique and special purpose in life. I believe that each person has a great gift to offer the world. After journalling down our thoughts, we could spend a few moments and dream with what we could do with our lives. Is there some dream that you could actually materialize this year?
4 – Write your first draft
After spending some time in reflection, we can now begin by writing down our first draft. It could be a paragraph or a few sentences, what matters most is that it is captivating and inspiring to the leader who is writing it.
Some suggestions for writing a first draft:
- Use inspirational quotes from scripture, books, famous leaders, etc.
- Write from the heart, that is, be passionate and don’t be afraid to dream.
- Make sure every word is intentional and integral to the statement.
- Write first, then edit.
- Go back to it a week later and tweak it
5 – Display it where you will see it
Now that you have a compelling mission statement, you can now have it in a place where you will go back to it regularly. I personally have it in my iPhone. Every Sunday as I do my weekly planning I read my mission statement.
As a leader, you can do great things. One way to help a leader do great things with their life is to have a personal mission statement.
Are you looking for feedback on your mission statement?
Email Trevor at leadyourlifeblog@gmail.com