This is just a short post before my lunch is over. I'd love to have a good thread of comments and get your feedback.
The average
Most companies have a mission statement. These came into vogue decades ago for reasons believed to be positive. The Fifth Discipline actually goes into some detail about how these should be crafted, how they're impactful, and how they've been abused and misused.
A simple question
What is the "human purpose" for a mission statement. Obviously, if I'm a potential buyer, I want to read that the company has a devotion to quality and making things that interest me. But, is that a correct interpretation of what the reader will believe? Are they the correct audience?
I propose that this is completely falacious. Potential product owners are less concerned with promises made in a statement that's probably hidden on a corporate page somewhere. But, who, then, is the intended target?
The employee.
Energizer
A mission statement, when built correctly, can furnish a wealth of understanding and shape to a company. Many mission statements are cut and dry, almost lawyer speak. They leave imagination out of it.
What I want
For once, I’d like to work for a company with a statement akin to, “We humbly want to attempt the insurmountable, to craft an inspired, courageous experience that will resonate with the truth we see and believe."
Instead of the typical, "We make [engaging|cutting edge|dastardly] stuff and put out products that people think are [awesome|compelling|addictive|worth spending money on].”
Why? Because that’s a bold thing to say! Look at the language. There are words that are laden with emotional intent. It’s a promise to employees and the audience that the company is NOT just pushing products, but really deeply thinking about what they are doing, how they are doing it, and how well they are doing it.
What are your thoughts? Have you seen particularly bad mission statements? Inspiring ones? Don't care? Does your company have one? How often are your employees reminded of it? How often do you remind yourself of the mission statement?
Thanks for reading!
About the Author
Andrew Andreas Grapsas is a game programmer at Arkadium, Inc. developing facebook games. Previously, he was a gameplay and animations programmer at Kaos Studios|THQ, and intern systems programmer on Medal of Honor.
Andrew is actively writing and programming for various projects. You can read more at his blog aagrapsas.com. He promises to update it soon.
Follow Andrew on twitter!
|
I've been at few places that explicitly promote a mission statement, but when they are, it is indeed used during all-hands meetings as a battle cry to rally the troops. Unfortunately, this can have the negative effect of sounding hollow, if that's the only venue employees hear such intent and purpose. As you allude to, if tailored to their goals and challenges, the mission statement begins to act more like a touchstone, a compass and a badge of honor.
I've been brawling with that kind of stuff for a few months actually. The hardest part about stating it, in my opinion, is to keep it honest to what you *actually* believe your company represents without sounding like you're pushing it... truth can be harder to spell out than a bunch of fabled stuff about your company .
Then I see, "Andrew Andreas Grapsas is a game programmer at Arkadium, Inc. developing facebook games. "
As a guy who has spent his life living by a creed similar to what you were pining for, it's sad to see this. I guess I understand now why you are coveting something more inspirational.
Not to just fall into complicit Facebook-hating, but I find it highly unlikely Arkadium has a mission statement near to the one you suggested.
Still did enjoy the article, but it's like having Steven Tyler tell a music site that he wants to see musicians be passionate again. As he's on American Idol. =(