Comments on: What is the point of a mission statement? http://www.badlanguage.net/what-is-the-point-of-a-mission-statement Writing, marketing and technology Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:56:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ian Chamandy http://www.badlanguage.net/what-is-the-point-of-a-mission-statement/comment-page-1#comment-503164 Ian Chamandy Mon, 09 Feb 2009 02:26:29 +0000 http://www.badlanguage.net/what-is-the-point-of-a-mission-statement#comment-503164 I hope you don't find this too self-serving but we created Blueprinting as an alternative to traditional strategic planning in part because we hate mission and vision statements. As a starting point for Blueprinting, we help clients answer the question "Why should I choose you?" - which we consider the most important question in business - in seven compelling words or less (many are just two). You can imagine that when you have a maximum of seven words and it MUST be compelling, you don't get generic statements or narcissistic mind benders. I hope you don’t find this too self-serving but we created Blueprinting as an alternative to traditional strategic planning in part because we hate mission and vision statements. As a starting point for Blueprinting, we help clients answer the question “Why should I choose you?” – which we consider the most important question in business – in seven compelling words or less (many are just two). You can imagine that when you have a maximum of seven words and it MUST be compelling, you don’t get generic statements or narcissistic mind benders.

]]> By: ContentConcepts http://www.badlanguage.net/what-is-the-point-of-a-mission-statement/comment-page-1#comment-494291 ContentConcepts Sun, 04 Jan 2009 03:31:58 +0000 http://www.badlanguage.net/what-is-the-point-of-a-mission-statement#comment-494291 I agree with you. Most of the mission statements are boring and difficult to comprehend. It's difficult to find one that is unique. I agree with you. Most of the mission statements are boring and difficult to comprehend. It’s difficult to find one that is unique.

]]> By: Jon Silk http://www.badlanguage.net/what-is-the-point-of-a-mission-statement/comment-page-1#comment-484702 Jon Silk Thu, 11 Dec 2008 11:43:02 +0000 http://www.badlanguage.net/what-is-the-point-of-a-mission-statement#comment-484702 Interesting as have just completed a project to write someone's mission statement. I Googled this one. Won't give it away but agree that this says nothing about anything, while saying everything about nothing. The main problem with mission statements is the 'so what?' factor. After all, which company *wouldn't* want to provide value, quality and useful products? Interesting as have just completed a project to write someone’s mission statement.

I Googled this one. Won’t give it away but agree that this says nothing about anything, while saying everything about nothing.

The main problem with mission statements is the ‘so what?’ factor. After all, which company *wouldn’t* want to provide value, quality and useful products?

]]> By: David Bradley http://www.badlanguage.net/what-is-the-point-of-a-mission-statement/comment-page-1#comment-477356 David Bradley Fri, 21 Nov 2008 11:09:32 +0000 http://www.badlanguage.net/what-is-the-point-of-a-mission-statement#comment-477356 Mission statements are there only to please management. A mantra, a simple, short, sharp message - now that's a different matter - it can motivate staff and boost brand awareness all in one. David Bradley... ...communicating science Mission statements are there only to please management. A mantra, a simple, short, sharp message – now that’s a different matter – it can motivate staff and boost brand awareness all in one.

David Bradley…
…communicating science

]]> By: Percy http://www.badlanguage.net/what-is-the-point-of-a-mission-statement/comment-page-1#comment-474232 Percy Sat, 15 Nov 2008 04:47:59 +0000 http://www.badlanguage.net/what-is-the-point-of-a-mission-statement#comment-474232 I think companies write them because of the "everyone seems to have one so I'll get one too" syndrome. I think companies write them because of the “everyone seems to have one so I’ll get one too” syndrome.

]]> By: Clare Lynch http://www.badlanguage.net/what-is-the-point-of-a-mission-statement/comment-page-1#comment-473718 Clare Lynch Fri, 14 Nov 2008 16:08:40 +0000 http://www.badlanguage.net/what-is-the-point-of-a-mission-statement#comment-473718 Nice post. Definitely a cut-n-paste job if ever there were one. I particularly love the mind-bending, Moebius-strip circularity of "our corporate objectives include making enough profit to achieve our corporate objectives". I think I need to go and lie down while I work that one out. And anything that mentions "delivering innovative solutions" rings instant alarm bells. Oh, and all this talk of "values", without actually setting out what those values are makes me wonder if they've got an equally dire "values statement". Please share! Though isn't "fulfill" just an American spelling? Nice post. Definitely a cut-n-paste job if ever there were one.

I particularly love the mind-bending, Moebius-strip circularity of “our corporate objectives include making enough profit to achieve our corporate objectives”. I think I need to go and lie down while I work that one out.

And anything that mentions “delivering innovative solutions” rings instant alarm bells.

Oh, and all this talk of “values”, without actually setting out what those values are makes me wonder if they’ve got an equally dire “values statement”. Please share!

Though isn’t “fulfill” just an American spelling?

]]>