Are You Inspired?

Kristy Tan Neckowicz's View From the Top: When was the last time you felt inspired in your work? There's a correlation between having a clear mission and being inspired.

A mission statement clarifies what a business does. Wouldn't having a personal mission statement do the same for an individual?

I think so. Yet in my experience most professionals never take the time to create their own personal mission statement. 

I encourage all my coaching clients to create a statement that inspires them to stay focused on what they value.  Doing so brings together two important questions for creating happiness:

  1. What do I value?
  2. What do I want to accomplish?

Those of you who have attended our Talent@Work® seminar already know that each of us is motivated by a combination of 6 different values. Those values are expressed in the following questions:

  • Are you driven by making money and cultivating status?
  • Are you driven by learning and being more knowledgeable about a variety of topics?
  • Are you driven by making a positive impact on other people's lives?
  • Are you driven by creating beauty, harmony and balance?
  • Are you driven by acquiring power and independence?
  • Are you driven by maintaining traditions or a system for living?

Writing your own mission statement requires you to zero in on what really matters most to you. Once you know your "why," then it's useful to connect it to your "what." What do you want to accomplish that will bring your values alive?

Here are a few examples of specific mission statements:

"I value using my knowledge to help others. My mission is to educate women about breast cancer and advocate for the cure."

"I value being recognized for superior job performance as I help others reach their potential. My mission is to lead a department that assists employees with recognizing, developing, and using their natural abilities."

"I value being rewarded for my artistic expertise. My mission is to create a successful business as a fashion photographer."

"I value maintaining company traditions and efficient systems. My mission is to create manuals and tools so others can learn the ropes quickly and easily adapt to our office culture."

We lose sight of what's important because we keep ourselves so busy.

A personal mission statement is a useful tool for staying focused, for keeping ourselves inspired through long days and difficult tasks, and for guiding our choices about which new projects and roles to take on.

Knowing what motivates you is key to creating a mission statement that inspires you to action. If you want to learn more about your core motivators, contact us today.  We'll work with you, starting with a Workplace Motivators Assessment that will identify primary drivers. Then, we'll debrief your assessment with you over the phone, reviewing what your results mean for you, your career, and your own personal mission statement.