How to implement a mission statement
You’ve followed the suggestions provided on previous pages about developing a mission statement and are now ready to implement that mission. If you’ve used an inclusive process to develop the statement, your efforts will be rewarded in this implementation phase: you’ve demonstrated an understanding of the importance in development of acceptance, commitment, and ownership. Now, in implementation, you can benefit from your efforts thus far...
1. Form an ad hoc committee.
Select a working party representative of all groups in the organisation - management and staff. This team, established for the specific purpose of successfully implementing the new mission, will be disbanded after this intention has been realised. By being expansive about committee membership, you will give every group an opportunity to be involved in the implementation process. Make sure that each working party member wants to be involved and, therefore, is prepared to give the task the priority it deserves and warrants.
2. Develop a shared meaning.
Before going public, the implementation working party must ensure that it will be communicating a message that is clear, straightforward, and embraced by its members. When people want answers to specific questions about implementation, it is vital that they receive a common message. If, for example, the mission is a ‘kill-Darius statement’*, there can be no confusion about the actions required.
3. Adopt an inclusive approach.
As part of the implementation process, the working party should provide opportunities for the organisation’s staff and management to interact and get to know each other better. Some people will judge the importance of these events by who actually participates. For example, if the CEO or members of the executive team do not attend, this could be interpreted as an indication of the lack of priority attached to the mission and its implementation. Impress upon the working party team the need for them to motivate members of their own work groups to attend and to participate in the process.
