In this 3-minute HR, we will take a brief look at mission, vision and values. We will look at what each of these terms means when we are talking about your organization's goals.

Mission

First up is your company’s mission. This is one sentence, or maybe even part of a sentence, that says why your company exists and how you want to make your mark on the world. What is it that is so important to you? What are you here for? What is your reason for existing?

The Smithsonian institution, which you are probably familiar with as the largest research institution and museum network in the world. Their mission is the increase and diffusion of knowledge.

You are likely very familiar with Starbucks. Their mission is to inspire and nurture the human spirit – one person, one cup and one neighborhood at a time. That might sound really lofty for a coffee shop, but that is their mission and that is how they want to make their mark on the world.

Vision

Vision statements are a little more specific. They look more long-term and they describe the how, how are you going to get to your mission.

So, with Smithsonian, their vision is “Shaping the future by preserving our heritage, discovering new knowledge and sharing our resources with the world.”

Starbucks wants to establish itself as the premier purveyor of the finest coffee in the world while maintaining uncompromising principles while they grow.

These are the how of how they are going to get to their mission statement.

Values

Finally, we’ve got values. These are roughly four to eight ideas or tenants that will guide your organizations everyday actions while it’s trying to accomplish its mission and live out its vision.

For Smithsonian, we find the values of excellence, Integrity, Respect, Diversity, Intellectual Freedom, and Collaboration.

Starbucks is a little bit wordier. They have “Creating a culture of warmth and belonging, where everyone is welcome; acting with courage, challenging the status quo…” They’ve got about four more of those, and it is a little bit lengthy, but you get the idea.

What are your foundational values that will help guide your organization on a day-to-day basis?

Hopefully that was a helpful, yet quick, explanation if your company is planning to work on its mission, vision, or values or all three. We certainly encourage employers to do that if they haven’t yet. It can be really helpful for your business and employees to be grounded in where you want to go.

Thank you for your time today, and I do hope you will check out our other articles and videos In the resources section of our website, anchorpays.com.