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Leadership Expert

Define Your Mission, Vision and Values

The Importance of

People start their own business for a variety of reasons. 3. What are your values: These are your guiding principles.
Perhaps it is out of necessity to create a job and pay the bills. We unconsciously seek harmony in our business activities
Or it is motivated by a brilliant idea and the entrepreneurial with our values. To be out of harmony causes stress.
passion to bring that idea to market. No matter the start- Identify 5 or 6 of your core values and write them down.
up motive, those businesses that succeed from start-up to
going concern often stall once the start-up vision fades away These, essentially, are your personal constitutional
and is replaced with meeting the day-to-day demands of the statements with which all of your business decisions and
business. Sometimes it can feel like the business is running activities are measured. They define your business’s direction
you, the owner, rather than you running the business. and purpose as well as its boundaries. They can provide
support for your most difficult decisions. By asking, “is this
To regain control, it is wise to pause and create or review decision consistent with our mission vision and values?” you
your Mission, Vision and Values statements. These do not give yourself a structure for decision making that reduces
have to be grand and poetic writings but rather, simple clear emotion and stress and leads to better decisions.
statements that define your business and your intentions.
“I know what they are, they are in my head,” is a common If you already have your mission, vision and values
protest against taking the time to be thoughtful and statements written down, then review them and update
purposeful in the activity to create these statements. But, them, if necessary, and use them. If you do not have these
the value of writing them down cannot be overstated. Writing statements written yet, then make this activity a priority.
them out forces you to sort through the jumble of ideas, You may need help from a business coach to develop these
emotions and good intentions in your head, and turn them important statements. Seek a qualified coach to help you.
into well thought out and actionable statements of purpose It will be worth the investment enabling you to grow your
and intention. Knowing your mission, vision and values, with business with purpose and intention.
clarity, can help put you back in control of your business Murray’s knowledge of sales and leadership has been earned through
rather than the business being in control of you. a career that started as a small business entrepreneur wearing “all the
hats”. He then transitioned into a professional sales and leadership career
in the insurance industry, where his passion for training and leadership
Mission Vision and Values statements describe three development was recognized in his appointment as
important truths about your business: a Senior Manager.
Since 2008, Murray has been a part-time faculty
1. What is your mission: Why does your business exit? What member at Kitchener, Ontario’s Conestoga College,
School of Business. He currently teaches within the
does it do? What needs does it meet for your clients? – “Leadership Development Series,” a program helping
This may be obvious but write it down. managers and management candidates understand
and implement the principles of effective leadership.
2. What is your vision: What difference does your business
make for those with whom you engage? What inspires Murray Smith
The Achievement Centre
you and your clients about what you offer. This is an P: 519.572.5977
aspirational statement of purpose. - Write it down msmith@TACresults.com

18 www.cambridgechamber.com
Spring 2019