Mission Statement vs. Vision Statement
If you’re a small business owner, you may have heard of a mission and vision statement and you may have heard both of these phrases used interchangeably. Whether you’re a small business or a nonprofit organization, you need to have a focused and well-written one. Businesses use mission and vision statements to guide their current operations and future goals. When it comes to the drive and direction of your business today and tomorrow, you don’t want to get these two mixed up.
So what is the difference between a mission statement and a vision statement?
A mission statement expresses your business core values and purpose. It is what drives your business. From this come the objectives and what it takes to reach those objectives. The mission statement also shapes the culture of your business. A strong mission statement is usually a short phrase consisting of about two to three sentences that set forth what your business does, whom you serve, and how you serve them. You can also include information on where the business is based, its target audience, or a general statement about the business’ values and goals. The audience for a mission statement ranges and it is often centered around consumers, employees, and investors.
A vision statement expresses the future goals and ambitions of your business. The vision statement is about one sentence and describes your long-term goals, and core values while giving the business direction. A well-worded vision statement should serve as a mantra that promotes growth, both internally and externally and inspires you and your employees to work toward the greater goal of the business. Some of the questions you may want to ask yourself while writing your vision statement are, what are our hopes and dreams? What problem are we solving for the greater good? Who and what are we inspiring to change?
So why is it important to set your mission or vision statement? Because every business should know the direction you are to follow or the destination in order to achieve great success. The mission and vision statements are essential tools of strategic planning and help shape the strategy that will be used to achieve your desired future! Furthermore, it gives you and your employees a sense of belonging, and identity and motivates everyone to strive for success and growth.
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Do you have a mission or vision statement? Looking for a little more help creating yours? My Strategic Hiring VIP Day might be a great start for you! We will take an in-depth look at your processes, your team, the inner working of your business operations, and where you want to go. Let’s connect today! https://hello.dubsado.com/public/form/view/6250a352d7bbf0219d6df182
