Development organizations need to develop clear vision and mission statements that are persuasive. They guide the organization’s actions, and decisions and also communicate its purpose and direction to stakeholders.
Integral World is a non-profit organization whose commitment is to have a positive, meaningful, and sustainable impact on the world. It operates in the development sector through a comprehensive understanding of storylines; deepening insight into issues; and offering solutions for enduring change.
This article will discuss the importance of having vision and mission statements for developmental organizations, as well as show you how to come up with them step by step.
The Importance of Vision and Mission Statements
Vision Statement
A vision statement sets out an organization’s long-term goals or the ultimate impacts it intends to make. It offers guidance towards strategic planning. A well-written vision statement ensures the alignment of efforts among employees while motivating them towards achieving a common goal.
Example – Oxfam’s vision : A world without poverty
Mission Statement
A mission statement details the primary objectives or core purpose within which an organisation operates. What does this firm do? Who are its clients? How does it do that? It acts as a basis for decision-making ensuring everything done ties back to why it was started.
Example – World Food Programme mission : To end hunger in our lifetime by providing food and life-changing aid to the world’s most vulnerable.
Crafting Vision and Mission Statements
Step 1: Define Your Core Values
Core values are principles that guide people in making organisational decisions. These values shape what matters most to an organisation thus becoming part of its culture. Core values form the bedrock upon which both the mission & vision statements are built.
Example Values:
Integrity, Accountability, Innovation, Compassion, Sustainability
Step 2: Identify Your Long-Term Goals
Long-term goals are the broad objectives that organisations strive to attain. These goals should be challenging but within reach and consistent with an organisation’s core values. Identifying long term goals helps in shaping vision statements as they should reflect aspirations of an organisation.
Example Long-Term Goals:
- Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
- Ensure universal access to education
- Promote gender equality and empower women
- Combat climate change and its impacts.
Step 3: Understand Your Audience
Understanding your audience requirements is critical in coming up with a vision and mission statement that resonates with them. The stakeholders may include donors, beneficiaries, partners, employees, and the general public. Listening to stakeholders and getting their feedback will not only help in developing relevant vision/mission statements but also one that appeals to them.
Step 4: Draft a Vision Statement
The vision statement should be concise, clear and inspiring. This means that it must be able to give an overview of what the organisation wants to achieve in the long run while showing its core values. When developing the vision statement, there are some tips that one may consider as shown below:
- Use plain language
- Think about the end game
- Make it aspirational and inspirational.
For example – Water.org : A world where everyone has access to clean water.
Step 5: Drafting Your Mission Statement
Mission statements must provide a clear, brief description of an organisation’s purpose and objectives. For instance, they define what an organisation does, who it serves and how its aims are achieved. There are certain factors people must think about when creating a mission statement given below:
- Be Specific and Clear
- Put attention on the central objective of the organisation.
- Focusing on key activities and beneficiaries.
For instance, To provide safe and sustainable drinking water to communities in need through innovative and community-driven solutions. – Water.org
Step 6: Review & Refine them
After writing vision and mission statements; share these with relevant parties for feedback gathering which is critical towards ensuring clarity, relevance as well as inspiration of these statements. Based on this feedback received, refine these statements aligning them with organisational core values/long term strategic goals.
Step 7: Communicate & Implement them
On finalising with vision & mission statements communicate to all members of the organisation besides embedding them into strategic planning processes as well as decision making process. Therefore such wordings should be conspicuously placed on the website of any given organisations promotional materials plus their internal documents. So regularly review these statements, updating them accordingly if any goal/value changes occur within such a firm.
Improving Organisational Effectiveness
Matching Activities with Aim
A clear vision and mission steers all programs towards an organisational purpose. Therefore such unison makes sure that the best use is made of resources hence an effective organisation.
Engaging and Motivating Stakeholders
Vision and mission statements are inspirations to stakeholders. They act as a communication channel to attract donors, partners, and employees in order for them to understand the purpose behind it all. To this end, it’s important to establish viable long-term relationships with these entities.
Guiding Strategic Planning
These statements lay down the foundation of strategic planning and decision making. In addition, they grant assistance when it comes to setting priorities along with allocating resources towards achievement of organisational goals thus helps in measuring progress. Thus with such guidance, one can have a business which is always focused on its core reason for existence as well as future impact desired.
Developing Organisational Culture
A clear vision and mission statement furthermore helps in building a strong organisational culture that aligns with the core values of an organisation. Such culture enhances team members’ commitment towards objectives by providing a sense of direction they need to work together as a group.
Conclusion
If development organisations are to be successful in their missions, they must develop clear and compelling vision and mission statements. Such statements guide an organisation’s acts and decisions and communicate its ends to stakeholders. Following the steps outlined in this article, organisations can come up with mission and vision statements that inspire, involve and direct their actions towards bringing about a positive impact on the world.
For more information on how we can assist your organization to articulate its principles for sustainable change, please get in touch with us on reach@integralworld.org.
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“Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.” – Dalai Lama
