Writing a mission statement, and how waiting tables is as fine an ambassadorship as any outside post.
Demystifying entity-speak: Mission & Vision Statements
In corporate America, mission and vision statements abound. Along with charters and constitutions, Mission Statements are probably one of the most important things in fulfillment of destiny1. Once written, reminders of mission can help organizations get on same page and work in harmony with one another. But how do you write one?
Vision, Mission, Values (VMV)2 statements are often short paragraphs saying what the organization is about at its emotional, living core.
What’s intriguing to me is that even when these statements are not in the forefront in the conscious mind of individuals in the organization, they often serve to help to guide the actions of the ‘entity’ as a whole, sometimes in surprising – nearly unconscious ways. ‘Entity’ is defined here as the corporation, business, school, NGO, non-profit, or even, government2. Crafting these statements is an art, and embodying them, one of the more important things stated – and understated– leaders do.
Lasting effects, even when people are distracted
Everyone from the cleaning staff up through executive structure can be subconsciously influenced by mission statements, and they endure as simple teaching tools3 over time. The best-crafted VMV’s leave room for growth too. That is, they are not so specific that they limit growth. You need room for fluidity by choosing terms that describe qualities, emotional states, and philosophical leanings.
the questions answered in an entity’s VMV
Vision: Who we are
Mission: What we do
Values: How we do it?4
_________
I can give lots of examples, but you can go to any well-formed organization, and likely find their mission & values on their website. That’s the best way to learn how they work and how to best craft your own. In the case of our nation: you can find a combined ‘VMV’ in the Constitution.
“On the other hand… she wore a glove.”
~ John Dowling of Jamestown, RI
who went by the nickname “Bubba”
Island Ambassadorship
My beloved former restaurant boss, written about here, rarely had meetings, but hoarsely croaked her restaurant’s mission with a cigarette in hand and stain of red wine on her lips. It was, “we are good will ambassadors here.”
This statement was often the full extent of team meetings, with perhaps a a few pointers about how to pick up the bar garnish with a toothpick so as not to horrify the germaphobe customers sitting too close to the waitress station.
I used to wonder how can you be an ambassador when everyone comes to you? Aren’t you supposed to go somewhere else to represent?
Well, we stayed put and dignitaries and denizens came to us: celebrants, politicians, actors, local and scrappy boat builders walked through the doors. The town council, the gossips, the fishmongers, the artists, the restaurant people. And we did our thing: we served. They bought expensive lamb chops and Swordfish Classico. They drank free beers from the smart bartenders, and ate what we called “sobering cheese” late night. Wine was over-poured into huge stemware, and we tended to their bodies and souls with spirited, grown-up, and widely differing styles of service. There was no particular standard, other than: Good Will. One local told me the building had been a ‘cathouse’ around the turn of the century, but we ran it more like an embassy. Or at least, that’s how I saw it. Classy.
This mom & pop business minus the “pop” was a landmark in Jamestown, Rhode Island, and still is, just under different ownership. It is nestled next to a 300 year old Beech Tree and still generating good will across the universe. Or at least I hope so.
So, how to wrap up this 3-part little ditty? Perhaps by a CTA or two:
Contact my business if you’d like to craft a mission statement that can go on with grace
AND
Don’t knock the value of simple missions. They can take you far, even if you barely leave home.
- Yes, destiny is a word with oomph. Get 10 tips how to Design Your Destiny here. ↩︎
- In the case of the United States, you can find these things written a little more into the prose, and woven together with organizational structure in the Constitution (courtesy of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia) and also, The Declaration of Independence. ↩︎
- This is a solid set of Vision, Mission & Values statements here. There are tens of thousands more. ↩︎
- Corollary: I have seen “Community Values” which may be understood, perhaps, as how the community is expected to behave with each other. ↩︎
