Does your business have a clearly defined mission statement? How about a vision statement? What are the core values of your business? The answers to these questions is what makes up the DNA of your brand. Establishing your core mission, vision, and values will act as a guiding force in the work your business engages. They will act as a gut check to whether or not your work aligns with what your brand. When work starts to pile up and you feel overwhelmed, let your mission, vision, and values be the deciding factor in which projects need to be cut.
Establishing your mission, vision, and values can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to be. When it comes to establishing what your brand stands for, simplicity is a helpful key. Standing for just a few things can be more effective than trying to stand for everything.
If you’re feeling stuck establishing these core principles of your business, here a few suggestions to help you get started.
Your Mission
The mission of your business is the driving force behind what you do, and why you are in business. It’s what turns the lights and coffee on in the morning, and what keeps them on late into the night. Your mission statement should reflect this driving force. It is the overall structure from which your vision and values will flow.
Here are some guiding questions you should ask yourself when establishing your mission statement.
What is the legacy you envision for your business? What is the impact you want your business to make? What specific areas do you want your business to impact?
Your Vision
Once you have your mission statement hammered out, you can start answering the key questions surrounding this vision of your business. Your vision is how your business is going to achieve its mission. It brings your mission statement to life.
How are you going to ensure that the legacy of your business is achieved? How are you going to make the impact you want to make in your community and the world? When you answer these questions, the vision of your business will become clear.
Your Values
After you have clearly defined the mission and values of your business, the next step is to flush out your core values. Your values are what you want your business to be about. They are the support system for your vision and mission. What is it that makes your business unique? What are the characteristics that set your business apart from other businesses, and your competitors?
As a business owner, it is important that you incorporate your values into your business at every level. From your culture, to how you attract business, and how you interact with your customers. They should be a set of living principles that set the tone of company policy and rise above individual personalities.
Need Some Help?
Need some help with establishing your mission, vision, and values? Mountain Cane Media can help. Get in touch with us today and let us know how we can serve you and your business.
