About Purpose is about your purpose.
Aim: Identify and articulate your purpose.
Arm: Shape yourself around your purpose.
Act: Achieve your purpose.
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About Purpose,
YOUR Purpose
Now announcing a radical new way for you to afford quality consulting services. Read this press release.
Upside Down Strategic Planning
Bob Ryan, About Purpose, Inc. ©2010
You’ve probably all seen them – mission statements that are rambling, verbose, unclear. Why is it that so many people have trouble coming up with a strong mission statement? Turn your strategic planning upside down and you will end up with a strong, clear, compelling mission statement.
WHY? Most people work on Mission/Vision/Values. Don’t start with your mission statement! Turn the process upside down and start with your values. Ask yourself what you really care about. What angers you? What tickles you? What makes you cry or laugh? What drives you? What do you think about before you go to bed at night and when you first wake up in the morning? Unless you identify what you are really passionate about – that is, the WHY you are in business – you will always fall short in all the rest of your communications.
Example: “I’m bummed when I see kids wasting their young lives; when I see parents unable to pass on any sense of relevancy to their kids. I’m saddened by my friends who can’t relate to their kids; who don’t know how to communicate with them and are afraid to try because of their own inadequacies.”
SO WHAT? Now that you’ve identified what’s really in your heart, answer this question. “What would it look like if we could really make a difference in that area?” This is a time to use behavioral language that describes potential results. If you engage in your business or activities, what difference will it make to those things you hold dear? The answers become your vision statement.
Example: “I want to see kids and parents in meaningful conversations with each other throughout the day. I want to hear about parents who have the skills, knowledge and tools to interact with their kids in a way the kids can respect and look forward to. I want to see communication barriers created by the time demands on both kids and their parents broken down and made irrelevant.”
WHAT AND HOW? Only now can you write a relevant mission statement. Your mission must be driven by deep felt needs and must address a realistic and substantive outcome. It must be rooted in passion so that it will attract employees, customers, investors, donors, etc. who share in the vision you have cast because they share in the values you hold.
Example: Our company provides phone apps and software solutions that connect families in meaningful and timely communication. We create interactive opportunities for sharing values and building mutual accountability into family relationships.”
The Upside Down approach to strategic planning will help you arrive at a mission statement that you can use immediately in your marketing and logistical communications. You will find you do not need day-long sessions to launch your vision. You will be able to clearly communicate your values to current and prospective employees, ensuring a deeper level of buy-in and mutual commitment.
“Too good to be true,” you say? Close your office door for one hour and take out a sheet of paper and pen. Turn your strategic planning upside down and when you open the door back up you will find you have a renewed sense of direction and purpose.
For more help with strategic planning, or if you would like a facilitated board or management strategic planning retreat, e-mail or call me at 612-965-2253.