Exercise 4: Values & Mission Statements

On the following is a list of 126 values and virtues, there may be others and you can just simply add them to the lists. You may want to make a photo copy of this list for family members and/or future exercises.

“The measure of a man’s real character is what he would do if he would never be found out.”
Thomas MaCauley

• List your top ten out of all those you have circled.
• Circle approximately 3-5 out of those ten to be your core values.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Record your top 3-5 values and then write a brief statement to describe what each value means to you.

Values	Descriptive Statement
1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 –	1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 –

 

Example of Core Values Statement from the YMCA of Canada.
The YMCA’s core values guide our everyday decisions and actions. We encourage everyone involved with the YMCA to accept and demonstrate these positive values.

• Caring is accepting others. It’s being compassionate, generous, sensitive and thoughtful.
• Honesty is shown through integrity, fairness and sincerity in the words and deeds.
• Respect is acknowledging the inherent worth of oneself and others.
• Responsibility is being accountable for one’s behavior, obligations and actions.

 

Write your Core Values Statement here.

 

“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.”
Abraham Lincoln

 

Vision and Mission

Vision is one of the most powerful gifts of human beings. The ability to see the future in our mind and heart can literally sustain life. Vision is our dreams of a future, something you see with your heart and a characteristic of leaders. It is to begin with the end in mind. Habit #2 from Steven R. Covey’s best selling book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”. Our vision can be developed and fine tuned by continually reflecting upon our major life goals. Our vision also becomes clearer and clearer as we move toward it through a plan of action (Part 4 – Goal Setting). From our vision, goals and values we can develop an equally powerful personal mission statement. Your personal mission statement is how you intend to get to your vision summarizing your values, principles and goals. The statement can help build and restore integrity as you journey through the ups and down we all face.

Many years ago I took the time to set my goals and created my personal mission statement and without question it was the most powerful thing I have ever done. I printed that statement and put it in a small picture frame and that statement has guided me ever since. In time of despair and discouragement I was able to reflect on that statement and the goals that created it and calm myself by knowing that I had purpose, meaning and direction in my life. I have found it has helped maintain my personal integrity and fueled my passion to achieve my goals. I have little doubt that the time you take to develop this statement will be of great value to you as well. I also recommend to go through the process to develop one for your family.

A mission statement is a short concise statement that describes the values and goals of a person or organization. This statement if done from the heart of the doer will govern their practices as they strive toward their vision. The statement can be as short as 9 words or as long as 150 words. The idea is to find a choice few words that best describes who you are and where you are going. Business author Steven Covey asks these questions when helping organizations form their mission statements;

• Does the mission statement show the means to an end.
• Does the mission statement recognize everybody the company deals with. (all stake holders, customers, lenders, suppliers, workers, leaders.)
• Does the mission statement come from within the organization. (the hearts and values of the people.)
• Does the mission statement meet the basic needs of people. (social, economical, spiritual, and mental needs.)
• Does the mission statement govern the business. (is it a constitution, do people really buy into it, promote it and live it especially those at the top.)

 

“It is peculiar that man can only live by looking to the future.”
Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl

 

Create a Personal Mission Statement
Daniel A. Janssen
“For love, health and prosperity in relationships and business, I commit my life to ongoing development and contribution”

I would like to briefly share with you the process of creating a mission statement I went through as the President of a local Toastmasters club to take it from being a club just about to fold to being one of the top clubs in its district. I began the process by explaining the power and the value of having a mission statement that would best describe our club, how the combined input from our executives, our members and our guests would be the basis for us to grow into a successful, strong, cohesive club. Over a few meetings we determined what kind of club we wanted to be. We needed to get clear on our goals as you have done in the previous chapters.

The executives identified some common goals that I could articulate to our members and guests during our next regular meeting. We were all given a copy of  those goals and the  chart of values on the previous page and were asked to ponder and think about what values were important. During our next two regular meetings, I put the  chart of values on an overhead and asked the group (leaders, members & guests) to think and call out values that may help define this club. As they called out values I circled them on the over head. Out of all those circled, we then select ten and then the top 5 values that we would make a part of our mission statement. We ended up with 8: professional, resourceful, encouraging, supportive, sharing, organized, energetic, broadminded. Then we assembled these words into descriptive phrases that looked like this.

1. Supportive, encouraging, empowering not intimidating, rigid, stuffy.
2. A community of people wanting to grow and enjoy the process.
3. High touch warm, caring, open and friendly atmosphere.
4. Training & development resources available and easy to access.
5. Professional, structured and organized.
6. High skill-developing club, producing professional speakers and excellent communicators & leaders.

With a little more thought and input we were able to create this statement that we continue to read, display and orient members with, to which I credit much of the success of the club.

 

Our Mission

To provide a professional and organized club that is energetic, friendly and supportive for the development of our public speaking, leadership and listening skills. Success oriented in our approach, we are committed to providing the education, resources and encouragement for its members to reach their goals.

 

Example of Organizations Mission Statements
Starbucks Coffee
“To continue to be the Premier Coffee Service Company by providing our customers with unsurpassed quality in products and service that assure total satisfaction”

 

Crown Packaging Ltd.
Our mission is to continually improve our people, products, quality and service in conformance with our customers requirements, allowing us to mutually grow and prosper”

 

Toastmasters International
Vision
Toastmasters International empowers people to achieve their full potential and realize their dreams. Through our member clubs people, throughout the world can improve their communication and leadership skills, giving them the courage to change

 

Mission
Through its member clubs, T.I., helps men & women learn the arts of speaking, listening & thinking. Vital skills that promote self-actualization, enhance leadership potential, foster human understanding and contribute to the betterment of mankind. It is basic to its mission that T.I. continually expand its worldwide network of clubs, thereby offering ever greater numbers of people the opportunity to benefit from its programs.

 

Mission Statement
Now its time to create your own personal mission statement from the goals and values you have chosen. When you do this consider your top three to five goals and your core values and write a statement that best describes how you intend to reach your goals.  You may want to break this down and assemble descriptive phrases and sentences and then combine them all to create your personal mission statement.

Congratulations, you must feel great excited about your mission. You now have a unique philosophy and outlook on life because you have taken the time to clarify and write this statement. Copy this statement to the page in Appendix A: and/or retype it with some fancy text and some fancy paper, frame it, put it on your wall or desk and let it empower you as you enjoy your journey.

 Now we are going to complete the task by setting these goals into a plan of action and you will have just joined the 3-5% percent of society. These are the outstanding men and women that make a difference by who they are and who they are becoming. They are the leaders of organizations and their families and they are the most respected and highest paid people in the  world.

“We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give”
Sir Winston Churchill