Six Benefits of Developing a Personal Mission and Vision Statement

Most companies today have a mission and vision statement written in stone. Plastered on websites, delivered in new employee orientations, or pitched in a sale, companies communicate these statements to their employees, customers, and everyone in between.

What are mission and vision statements? A mission statement outlines a company’s objectives and their plan to reach these objectives. A vision statement describes where the company wants to be in the future in terms of position. Together, they define the company’s goals, values and its purpose.

There is endless value to developing clear, concise mission and vision statements – which is why essentially every business has done so.

Why do companies find it so valuable to create and follow a mission and vision statement, but we are not developing them personally? Below I outline six benefits of creating your own personal mission and vision statements.

1.     Steer your current self to where you want to be in the future.

Business owners understand the importance of outlining the path of the company for all employees and stakeholders to follow and work to achieve. Put simply, these statements are daily reminders of why the companies exist.

The first benefit of having these personal statements are to define where we want to be in the future and have this constant reminder. Daily reminders of our own mission and vision ensure that we do not lose track of who we are, personally and professionally, even if we are working at a company with a different mission and vision.

What are your objectives as a person? Do you want to be most desired marketer in your industry or region? How are you going to achieve this? What value do you wish to create for the world? These are all questions to ask when determining a mission and vision.

2.     Never lose sight of your values.

It is easy to get so caught up in our careers and working towards someone else’s mission and vision that we often lose track of our own. As I mentioned earlier, a benefit of defining your own mission and vision is to stop this from happening.

In remembering your own purpose, you will also remember your values. Many companies define their values alongside their other statements and I suggest we all practice this. To me, values are the ground that a house is built on. If the ground is weak and unstable, the house will not stand as strong as it would if it were built on firm grounds.

3.    Create a stronger personal brand.

Today, a personal brand is of utmost importance. Having a strong personal brand, both online and offline can greatly affect you and your career as you grow. Credibility, influence, and value of you and your services grow directly with the growth of your personal brand.

How does a personal mission and vision statement contribute to your personal brand? Transparency! Being authentic in who you are and what you stand for plays the long game when it comes to personal branding.

Whether you are a marketer or a lawyer, a teacher or administrative assistant, a strong personal brand will bring value to whatever your profession is. More on personal branding is to come next week!

4.     Align with those around you.

Your Network is Your Net Worth. I find this insight to be incredibly valuable when I think about those closest to me. Defining your purpose and vision of your future helps you find those around you that share the same goals and ambitions. Even if your plans are different on how to get there, sharing end goals will help keep you on track to get there.

Accountability is key when it comes to success today and having someone to keep you accountable is like having an alarm clock to wake you up in the morning; sometimes it is painful hearing it when you need it most, but ultimately it is in your best interest.

"..having someone to keep you accountable is like having an alarm clock to wake you up in the morning; sometimes it is painful hearing it when you need it most, but ultimately it is in your best interest."

5.     Increase your productivity.

Studies show that when a company communicates their statements early and often to employees, there is more buy in and an increased productivity compared to those that do not receive the enforcement of the mission and vision.

I support a movement to apply this habit to ourselves. Consistent reinforcement of our own mission and vision will surely increase our productivity towards achieving these goals. Setting your own statements allow you to focus your energy and creativity into one concentrated direction.

6.     Helps with decision-making.

Developing your personal mission and vision statements aide the day-to-day decision-making. Your behaviors need to align with where you want to be in the future. By asking yourself if your behaviors and decisions align with your values, you can come to a conclusion that you are confident you stand behind.

Just as companies and their leaders make decisions based on the goals and ambitions, we too can make decisions based on our own personal objectives. Your personal mission and vision can guide everything from career choice, relationships and education to daily habits, beliefs, and hobbies.

My mission is to spread joy and happiness to the world through my words and actions.

 My vision is to become the most desired speaker and mentor helping thousands of young professionals achieve their greatest dreams.

What are you mission and vision statements?