Characteristics of Empowering Mission Statements

I saw this in Stephen Covey's First Things First and thought I'd share it.

According to his book, an empowering mission statement:

1. represents the deepest and best within you. It comes out of a solid connection with your deep inner life.

2. is the fulfillment of your own uniqure gifts. It's the expression of your unique capacity to contribute.

3. is transcendent. It's based on principles of contribution and purpose higher than self.

4. addresses and integrates all four fundamental human needs and capacities (to live, to love, to learn, to leave a legacy). It includes fulfillment in physical, social, mental, and spiritual dimensions.

5. is based on principles that produce quality-of-life results. both the ends and the means are based on true north principles.

6. deals with both vision and principle-based values. It's not enough to have values without vision - you want to be good, but you want to be good for something. On the ohter hand, vision without values can create a Hitler. An empowering mission statement deals with both character and competence; what you want to be and what you want to do in your life.

7. deals with all the significant roles in your life. It represents a lifetime balance of personal, family, work, community - whaterver roles you feel are your to fill.

8. is written to inspire you - not to impress anyone else. It communicates to you and inspires you on the most essential level.

FranklinCovey.com

Tags: FranklinCovey, Franklin Covey, First Things First, Writing a Mission Statement, Mission Statement, Mission Statements

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