If you don't know why you're doing something, there's simply no way for you to reach your full potential
It never ceases to amaze me how many organizations operate day in and day out without any sense of mission. Anyone who knows me is well aware that I'm a huge fan of Simon Sinek's concept of starting with why. Everything should begin on purpose. If you don't know why you're doing something, there simply is no way you can reach your full potential. And yet, many organizations continue going through the motions without any solid, over-arching purpose.
On the other hand, many organizations do have mission statements, but it's anyone's guess as to what the mission statement actually means. I've seen many mission statements that have lengthy sentences and big words, but no one really knows what it's trying to say. This presents perhaps an even worse problem than not having a mission at all. If people don't understand the mission, then they will all try to carry it out in different ways.
When you develop what the mission and purpose is for your organization, you want to make it simple, straightforward, and actionable. When your employees are asked what the mission of the organization is, their response should be second nature. It should simply roll off the tongue. You don't want to make them feel like they're memorizing the Gettysburg Address or the Preamble to the Constitution. Make it clear. Make it concise. Make it simple. If you set a vision that your employees can articulate, then it's a mission they can live out. What does your organization's mission look like?
