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Mission Statement
When Halsey Platt of Walter H.B. Platt Builders and Cabinetmakers in Groton, Mass., handed me his mission statement, it was truly a gift. I don't know if you share my suspicions, but I consider most mission statements primarily an exercise in public relations. Halsey's mission statement was both short and long. The summary statement was simply "On Time, On Budget, with Tons of Communication."
But that was followed by 20 practical definitions of each of the three promises. Here's how "On Time" is defined:
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We will set a realistic schedule.
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We will manage ourselves to that schedule.
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We will update that schedule regularly.
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We will allow additional time for additional work.
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We will help clients to be good partners in maintaining a schedule with timely decisions.
In addition to defining each of the three promises in clear and practical terms, there is a fourth section titled "Things you can take for granted," which contains six statements:
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We will respect our clients and their families.
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We will treat your home as such & not simply as a construction site.
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We will be honest and ethical at all times.
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We know that the true mettle of our company is measured by how we handle difficult situations not easy ones.
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We are a professionally managed, financially stable company.
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We do quality work at all times.
This is a mission statement that you can sink your teeth
into. You can run the company by it. This is a mission statement
that employees and clients can count on. But only if it is constantly
referred to, polished, utilized.
How might this mission statement be given life within and without
the company? Here are just a few ideas:
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Walk around the office and visit job sites one day with lots of crisp $5 bills in your pockets. Hand out one to each employee who can tell you the summary statement and give you an example of each promise.
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Start each company meeting by having employees take turns reading a section.
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At each meeting take one of the 20 definitions and review what it means.
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Hold an open discussion on how the company can deliver even better.
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Build the definitions into employee performance reviews.
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Hold an annual subcontractor seminar on the mission statement since they are key team members and are expected to deliver on the same promises.
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Give each new subcontractor the full mission statement, discuss how they can honor the commitments and require that they do.
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At the end of each job, have clients evaluate the company' performance on these 20 statements.
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Discuss the full statement with each prospective employee.Discuss the full statement with each prospective buyer.
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Present them with a copy at the first sales appointment.
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Review the meaning of each of the 20 definitions at each preconstruction conference with the new client.
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As problems are solved, refer frequently to the mission statement.
So if you are going to write a mission statement, don't bother with a pretty sounding one-liner. Carry through on that mission promise with clear definition of how each employee can deliver. Make it the central belief system of the company. Live it every day. And you will have written a true mission statement.
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Official Charity of 2008
Remodelers Advantage Inc.
535 Main Street, Suite 211
Laurel, MD 20707
ofc: 301-490-5620
fax: 301-498-6869
Info@RemodelersAdvantage.com