Creating a personal mission statement

Career Support - Career Toolbox

Facilitating a recent workshop with a group of passionate young youth workers, we invited them to create their personal mission statement for the next stage of their youth work journey.

 

Businesses spend a lot of time and money getting their mission statements right, because without a clear mission statement, you may drift off course. And if you don’t know where you are going any road will take you there.  This is how we often “fall into” careers. With a mission statement, you can measure every activity against it and make sure you’re on the right road to where you want to go.

 

A clear mission statement will keep you clear-headed and out of trouble.

 

A great mission statement is also a great branding.  You can use it to promote yourself and convey the essence of what you are all about.

 

Check out the following mission statements for 3 well-known global corporations and guess to whom they belong. (Answers at the end of article)

 

  1. "We create happiness by providing the finest in entertainment for people of all ages, everywhere."

  1. "Our vision is to be the world's best quick service restaurant experience. Being the best means providing outstanding quality, service, cleanliness, and value, so that we make every customer in every restaurant smile."

  1. "Our mission is to provide a global trading platform where practically anyone can trade practically anything."

Did you guess right? If you did it shows that these companies are staying true to their mission statements.

Essentially, your mission is your goal--your reason for being.

Try answering the questions:

Describe what you do?

E.g. Youth Worker 

Describe how you do it? Your style, your values.

E.g. I get involved and make it fun, whist being innovative and creating sessions to meet each groups needs

Add why? Your passion, your spark, what for? E.g. To ensure young people have a safe place just to be kids and act their age (not older)

The answer will be your first try at writing your personal mission statement.

 

Carrying Out your Mission

To carry out your mission, you will develop tactics and objectives. All of these will be part of your strategic plan. But first, pay attention to writing a clear, succinct, and inspiring mission statement. It will pay off in the end and keep you from wasting time and resources

Buy a picture postcard which resonates with you and write your mission statement on the back. Put it up somewhere visible so when you feel yourself veering off course, you can use it to remind yourself to stay on track and out of trouble.

 

(Answers: 1. Disney, 2. McDonald’s, 3. E-Bay)

Article by Fiona Biggins: Career and Youth Coach

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